Counties: Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton, Marion, Putnam

About: Parents as Teachers is a free program that equips parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to help their children be healthy, safe and ready to succeed in school.

Services: Regular developmental screenings during visits to make sure children are healthy, safe, and developing on track; one-on-one parenting support; connection with other parents and resources; and fun activities to encourage school readiness and school success.

Who is eligible? Parents as Teachers is for parents and caregivers with children from birth to age 3 with enrollment by 12 months of age in Alachua and Marion counties. In Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton and Putnam counties, the program serves children from birth to age 5 with enrollment by 24 months of age.

Parents as Teachers is available to parents and caregivers with children whose lives are impacted by these family stressors:

Low-income
Teen parent
Low educational attainment
Child abuse or neglect
Substance use
Intimate partner violence

Tobacco use in the home
Military family
Children with developmental delays, disabilities or chronic health issues
Recent immigrant or refugee family

Court appointed legal guardian
Incarcerated parent
Parent with mental health issue
Death in the immediate family

How to enroll: Call Parents as Teachers at 877-678-9355 or text “Connect” at 352-415-0091.

Our partnership  Parents as Teachers (PAT) is overseen by Healthy Start of North Central Florida, which is an affiliate partner of WellFlorida Council. Parents as Teachers in Alachua and Marion counties is provided through Kids Central, Inc. Parents as Teachers in Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton and Putnam counties is provided through the University of Florida, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This program is supported by the Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Initiative.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $9,170,155 with zero percentage finance with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.”

Learn more about Parents as Teachers at parentsasteachers.org