PARENTS AS TEACHERS SEEKS MORE REGISTRANTS

The Parents As Teachers program in the Cape Girardeau School District, which now serves about 200 families, could accommodate another 50 to 60.

With the hiring of a third parent educator, the staff can serve more families, Parents As Teachers Coordinator Susan Bartlett said.

"Last year, we were filled and beginning a waiting list." This year, many people mistakenly believe the program is at capacity, she said.

Bartlett said her staff is ready to serve additional families. All they have to do is call the PAT office at Jefferson School, 651-3703.

The program is free and voluntary for parents of children, ages birth to 3 years.

Parent educators make home visits and also hold a number of group meetings each school year.

"Families can enroll in that third trimester of pregnancy and we will make one prenatal visit," Bartlett said.

"Typically, we see families for four to five visits over the course of the school year." In addition, about four group meetings are held each year to provide information to parents about child development.

"Our program does screenings. We look at overall development and check vision and hearing to assure that the child is developing within a normal range for their age," she said.

This is the 10th year for the Parents As Teachers program in Cape Girardeau and the state of Missouri.