Laurens County First Steps Empowers Families Through Parents as Teachers Program

January 22, 2025

Laurens County First Steps (LCFS) is dedicated to supporting parents in their role as their child’s first and most important teacher. Through the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, LCFS serves 11 families. This evidence-based program is designed to help parents become their child’s first and most important teacher. Since its beginning nineteen years ago, the LCFS Parents as Teachers program has served 405 families and 567 children.

The program serves expectant parents and families with children ages 0-5, providing resources and training to prepare their children for success. The Parents as Teachers (PAT) curriculum is a research-based program that promotes early childhood development and family well-being. The PAT curriculum is relationship-based and parent-focused, with three main areas of emphasis: parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-being.  First Steps trained and experienced parent educators conduct in-home visits at least twice a month with children and their families and host monthly group meetings with other participating PAT families. In addition to these in-person meetings, other resources such as childcare scholarships and support, developmental assessments, screenings, and connections to outside resources are available for PAT families to help their children succeed.

Parents are their children’s first teachers, and school readiness is vital to children’s success. “Research has shown that the first three years of a child’s life are the most formative,” said Toni Able, Executive Director for Laurens County First Steps. “Many times, parents do not understand that the time they spend during their pregnancy is important, too.”

PAT aims to increase parents’ knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices. It also aims to provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse and neglect, and increase children’s school readiness and school success.

Laurens County First Steps Parent Educator Jackie Riegel states, “As a Parent Educator, I have seen so many parents become more confident in their ability to be the best first teacher their child has.”

Kaeleigh, a PAT parent, says, “[The Parents as Teachers program] has been helpful with parenting advice for a first-time parent.”

First Steps’ Parents as Teachers program helps parents recognize and utilize their vital role as their child’s first teacher. Those expecting, first-time parents, or parents with more than one child are all welcome to join the PAT program. LCFS is currently recruiting families and parents through this beneficial and rewarding program.

For more information, contact Toni Able, Executive Director of Laurens County First Steps at (864) 984-8130 or [email protected].