Texas Parents as Teachers eNews

Fall 2014


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Regional Trainings Are on the Way!

Texas PAT sites will soon be able to enjoy a day with PAT Parent
Educators and Supervisors from their area of the state to network, share
ideas, participate in professional development, and receive national and
state updates. Registration information will go out soon by email from
the Texas PAT State Office, and the schedule of trainings is included on
the last page of this newsletter.

A huge thanks to our regional trainers for their enthusiasm and hard
work! They have been planning your day for the past few months and
look forward to seeing you soon. This years focus across regions will be
refining skills in providing PAT services, with additional sessions on local
interests and resources. When using the research and evidence-based
curriculum, it is critical to individualize visits with each family in the
real world. Come listen and learn with other parent educators as we
discuss, reflect, and role-play various home visit situations.

The Endorsement Process

PATs National Office has begun rolling out the quality endorsement
process, and several Texas sites will be included this year. All affiliates
will eventually participate in the endorsement process. In order to
participate, an affiliate must be in its 4
th
year of implementation or
beyond. To earn endorsement, affiliates will need to meet at least 75%
of the Quality Standards, in addition to meeting the Essential
Requirements at satisfactory levels. Affiliates will participate in a self-
study to indicate which of the standards are incorporated into their
program. We encourage all affiliates to familiarize themselves with the
Quality Standards, and to identify program strengths and areas for
growth. The Texas PAT State Office will be working with local sites on
an individual basis as we all prepare for the endorsement process.
For more information:
http://www.parentsasteachers.org/images/stories/documents/Endorsement_update_5-
21.pdf






Texas Parents as Teachers activities are guided by the expertise of trainers and consultants from across the
state, who represent local programs and geographic areas as they assist the Texas PAT State Office in annual
planning. On June 23
rd
and 24
th
, the group gathered in Dallas for the annual Texas Trainers Meeting, hosted
by Mental Health America of Texas.

Regional Trainers for the state of Texas are Victoria Hughes, Deanne Colley, Sharron Whitaker, Erin Garner,
Kristen Fain, Becky Fletcher, Holly Evans, and Roschel Servantes. (See contact information on last page)
National Trainers for the state of Texas are Julie Miers, Christina Foster, Yolanda Munson, and Elaine Shiver.
Professional Development was provided by Robin Quinn, CEO of Productivity Plus and TXPAT Advisory Board
Member: Coaching for Results.



2014 Texas Trainers Meeting


Jennifer Lucy
Technical Assistance Manager

Prior to joining PAT, Jennifer worked on home
visitation advocacy and CPS reform with
TexProtects, teacher evaluation for KIPP Austin
Charter Schools, policy analysis and research for
the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, and
performance management for Breakthrough
Austin. Jennifer also spent 11 years as a middle
school math and language arts teacher. Her
experiences working with children and families
motivated her to pursue work with programs and
policies that take a family centered approach to
improving school readiness, child protection, and
mental health. Jennifer holds a Masters degree in
Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the
University of Texas, and a Bachelor of Arts in
Psychology from Texas A&M University. She and
her husband are native Austinites and have two
children.

Piper King
Program Specialist

Piper is an Austin native with a strong interest in
family and education policy. She has previously
worked on research related to child support in
Texas, focusing on military families, parental
relationships, and infant and child development.
Piper received her Masters degree from the LBJ
School of Public Affairs at the University of
Texas in May 2014, and holds a Bachelors
degree in Latin American Studies from the
University of Washington in Seattle. Additional
experience includes extensive international
travel and living abroad. Piper is thrilled to be
working for the Texas Parents As Teachers
program because it applies evidence-based
research and policy in its work with families. In
her free time, Piper enjoys exploring swimming
holes around Texas and taking leisurely runs
with her boyfriend, friends and family.
Texas Parents as Teachers Welcomes
New Members to the State Office Team


- Lorem Ipsum
Sites in the Spotlight
Family Services of Greater Houston

Family Services of Greater Houston,
part of the United Way of Greater
Baytown and Chambers Countys
initiative, works to improve
kindergarten readiness. Baytown
locals are incredibly supportive of
Family Services efforts. This year,
two local businesses led team-
building exercises, building toys and
materials to donate to local
programs.

The first project was by Bayer
Technology Services. In January,
they did a team building exercise
where they worked together to
assemble four beautiful Radio Flyer
Wagons. A parent educator from
Family Services attended and
presented to the group about her
program. The wagons were donated
to PAT families. They had to test
them, of course, to be sure they
were safely assembled, and it looks
like they had some fun!

The second project was by Shell,
who made and donated several
playhouses to local organizations.
Fifteen PAT families received
playhouses designed especially for
their children. Shell coordinated
with an organization called Odyssey
Team, Inc. that does what they call
a Playhouse Challenge; to give
businesses an opportunity to do
leadership development while giving
back to the community. Families had
the chance to visit the location
where the playhouses were being
built, meet the employees, and
enjoy snacks and gifts.
Doing leadership and team development is a
good thing, but why not combine it with
connecting and supporting the community!
We are grateful that local businesses
understand the importance of strengthening
families and starting early to grow happy,
healthy, productive future workforce
citizens.




For their June group connection, Child Care Group hosted a Fathers Day dinner and magic show
for 150 parents and children. This is an annual event they hold to encourage father engagement.
The evening was made possible through the generosity of the following community partners:
Embassy Suites, Market Center, and Blue Mesa Grill.



60 parents and children attended a Fire and Child Safety group connection. The local Fire and
Police Department gave a presentation on the importance of child safety.
Child Care Group, Dallas
University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa

Group Connections



Birdville ISD added a new family fun and learning event this year called, Family Olympics. The
event targeted parents, caregivers, and their children with a goal of getting the whole family
out and active together. This Parents as Teachers & Major Cheney PK Family Event was
sponsored by BISD/UW Early Learning Program and included: field day fun, petting zoo, bounce
house, hot dogs, art activities, block play, story time, face painting, games and more. 239
parents and 288 children enjoyed the event. Birdville ISD also hosted their PAT Graduation to
Kindergarten and Family Dinner!
Birdville ISD

Family Events & Activities



Catholic Charities, Corpus Christi
Catholic Charities kicked off the summer with a swim party, and Sebastian is ready for summer
with some new shades from his parent educator.

Top: Parent educator Brandy holds baby brother, while big sister and mom do their activity,
making play dough. Bottom: Parent educator Crystal makes ooze with mother and daughter.
Mom was ok with the big mess!




Holly Evans is the Director of the Parents as Teachers
program for Family Services of Greater Houston in Baytown.
This program is part of the United Way of Greater Baytown
Area and Chambers County's initiative to improve
kindergarten readiness. Holly initiated a new PAT program
in the fall of 2010 that now has five full-time Parent
Educators serving the community. Holly has a long-standing
love for working with the families of young children. For 12
years, she worked as an Early Intervention Specialist for
E.C.I. programs in Texas, Virginia and Louisiana. She served
as director of an ECI program in the Corpus Christi and
Baytown areas. Holly holds a Bachelors degree in Child
Development and Family Studies from Baylor University. She
is married and has two sons, ages 9 and 16.
Becky Fletcher of the Parenting Cottage in Lubbock, is
a certified parent educator in the Parents as Teachers
Prenatal-Three and 3-Kindergarten curriculum, the
State of Texas approved curriculum Parenting Wisely
for prenatal to 9 years, and the Safe Care curriculum
for infant to 3 years. Prior to joining the Parenting
Cottage, Becky served as a Parent Educator for
Buckners Children and Family Services where she
recruited families, provided parenting initiatives, and
facilitated group meetings. She also was the Lead
Teacher implementing initiatives under a federally
funded Head Start program. Becky holds a Bachelors degree in Human Development and
Family Studies from Texas Tech University. Becky has been married almost 20 years and
has three children. She enjoys reading, movies, and spending time with her family.

New Texas Parents as Teachers Regional Trainers
Victoria Hughes has worked for the Region 16 Education
Service Center Head Start/Early Head Start program for 5
years, and has supervised home visitors in the home-based
program option for the past 3 years. As a Coordinated
Services Specialist for the Early Head Start program, Victoria
leads and develops a team of talented Home Educators
committed to working with families and children to grow
relationships that make an impact in child and family
outcomes. She is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and
is passionate about using a strengths perspective in her work
with families and staff. Victoria earned both a Bachelors and
Masters Degree in Human Development and Family Studies
from Texas Tech University. She lives in Amarillo, Texas with her husband and daughter,
and enjoys spending time with family, playing Scrabble, traveling, and dancing with her
daughter.



2014 Texas Parents as Teachers Calendar


Foundational Trainings: Model Implementation:
9/15-9/17 Dallas 9/18-9/19 Dallas
11/10-11/12 San Antonio 11/13-11/14 San Antonio


3-K Trainings:
November 3 4 Fort Worth


2014 Foundational 2: Three Years Through Kindergarten Curriculum and Training will
be offered beginning in the late fall.
Whats new?
Foundational Personal Visit Plans have been enhanced to include support for visiting families with children
3 to 6 years.
Digital book format (like the online Foundational Curriculum) has been updated with additional web-based
features and embedded videos that support PEs knowledge and skill development.
Continuation of the Foundational approach, including enriched and expanded resources to support work in
all three areas of emphasis parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-
being.
Deepening of parenting behaviors and attention to parent engagement in community and schools.
Exercises and strategies included to strengthen approaches to learning such as persistence, creativity, and
initiative, along with supporting all areas of child development through the kindergarten year.


State Leaders and National Trainers Meetings, St. Louis, October 5 8, 2014
National Parents as Teachers Conference in St. Louis, October 8 10, 2014


Regional Trainings

San Antonio October 10, 2014 Kristen Fain, New Braunfels, kfain@mckenna.org
TEA Region 2, 3 & 20 830/606-9514

Fort Worth October 13, 2014 Deanne Colley, Fort Worth, dcolley@nisdtx.org
TEA Regions 9, 11, & 12 817/215-0198

Austin October 16, 2014 Erin Garner, Leander, erin.garner@leanderisd.org
TEA Region 13 512/570-0320

Valley October 17, 2014 Roschel Servantes, McAllen, rservantes@easterseals-rgv.org
TEA Region 1 956/631-9171

Lubbock October 24, 2014 Becky Fletcher, Lubbock, becky@parentingcottage.org
TEA Regions 14, 15, 17, 18 & 19 806/795-7552

Panhandle October 24, 2014 Victoria Hughes, Amarillo, victoria.hughes@esc16.net
TEA Region 16 806/683-4248

Gulf Coast October 29, 2014 Holly Evans, Houston, hevans@familyservices.org
TEA Regions 4, 5 & 6 832/289-9523

Dallas October 31, 2014 Sharron Whitaker, Dallas, fcc_whitaker@sbcglobal.net
TEA Regions 7, 8 & 10 972/298-3366



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