You may not have heard of the Parent-Child Home Program, but what they’re doing is truly changing lives. Using home visits, the program helps families that are lacking in educational opportunities, working to improve the parent-child relationship and prepare children for school. The model they use has been extensively tested and researched, and has been proven to help at-risk children find success in school.

A main aspect of the program revolves around something most families take for granted – good verbal interaction between parents and children. Due to limited education, poverty, homelessness, illiteracy, teenage parenthood, and language barriers, many parents are not able to communicate with, play with, and teach their children as well as they’d like. Home visitors from the program arrive when a child is as young as 16 months, bringing educational toys and books and showing families how to use them to enhance development, increase language skills, and prepare for school. By helping both the parents and the children, the program is truly looking after all of the members of a community and giving a fighting chance to those who may have otherwise fallen behind.

The project began in 1965, and has been growing and thriving ever since. The National Center is located in Long Island, New York, although there are over 150 other sites nationwide and 10 in other countries. As all parents know, every child deserves a chance to learn, and this program helps those who couldn’t do it on their own with a little time, help, and, most of all, a true devotion to families in need.

For information about centers in your area, to learn more about what this inspiring program is doing, to get tips to help your own family, or to get involved yourself.

Image: Parent-Child Home Program

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