WHEREAS, Family centers serve 4,733 families with 6,843
children enrolled in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting
program and hundreds more families with supportive services; and
WHEREAS, PAT is the evidence-based program used by all
Pennsylvania Family Centers; and
WHEREAS, PAT's vision is that all children will earn, grow
and develop to reach their full potential; and
WHEREAS, PAT's mission is to provide the information, support
and encouragement parents need to help children develop
optimally during the crucial early years of life; and
WHEREAS, Family centers affirm PAT's position that parents
are children's first and most influential teachers, and the
early years of life are critical for optimal development and
provide the foundation for success in school and in life; and
WHEREAS, PAT is federally recognized as an evidence-based
model program because it meets rigorous standards for
effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, Family centers support families in achieving
economic stability, healthy children in healthy homes and school
readiness of children through strength-based work with families,
including the use of the PAT's model; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth invests more than $3 million in
family centers; and
WHEREAS, More than 60% of Pennsylvania's population lives in
the 28 counties served by family centers in urban, rural and
suburban communities; and
WHEREAS, Sixty-five percent of the families served are
considered high risk due to low educational attainment, poverty
or disability; and
WHEREAS, Established and emerging research should be the
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