Wood County, Wisconsin

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Parents as Teachers (PAT)

Giving every family a strong start.

Your child was born to learn and you are the most important teacher. Wood County Health Department’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a FREE home visiting program for expectant parents and parents of children birth to 3 years old. A parent educator will focus on providing support, education, resources, and time for reflection to give parents and caregivers the tools to raise a child that is healthy, safe, learning, and ready for school.

PAT's Vision: All children will develop, learn and grow to realize their full potential.

PAT's Mission: To promote the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers.


Parents as Teachers is proven to:

PAT icon yellow star Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development
PAT 8 dots Improve early detection of developmental delays & health issues
PAT icon 4 star Increase children’s school readiness and success
PAT icon blue arch Prevent child neglect and abuse

Free Home Visit

A visit from a parent educator engages families and children in their home environment regardless of their background or circumstances. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Parents teaching child
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During a home visit, a parent educator will:

  • Help plan for the arrival of a new baby
  • Support families in creating a safe and nourishing environment
  • Help parents understand early child development
  • Provide screenings to watch for development delays
  • Offer age-appropriate support and activities
  • Connect you to other families and resources

To register to receive free home visiting services, complete the Registration Form below:
Parents as Teachers Registration Form
For current PAT participants, complete the Participant Consent Form below:
Participant Consent Form

This project is funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.