The National Center's Mission

The Parent-Child Home Program's National Center strives to ensure that families in communities across the country have access to The Parent-Child Home Program. The National Center assists communities in developing Parent-Child Home Program replications and expanding existing sites. The center works to increase public awareness about the importance of early parent-child verbal interaction and works with public officials to increase the availability of public funds that can be utilized to support Parent-Child Home Program replications around the country.

"The Parent-Child Home Program is the most cost-effective, proven initiative available today preparing at-risk children and their families for success in school." DR. JOHN SILBER, PRESIDENT EMERITAS BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND FORMER CHAIR MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF EDUCATION

Services

ADVOCACY
Located on Long Island, New York, The Parent-Child Home Program's National Center works closely with school districts, social service agencies, universities, charter schools, community health centers, family resource centers, public libraries, and other local agencies to open new sites. National Center staff also work with federal, state and local legislators, early childhood specialists, educators and private funders to replicate the Program and develop ongoing funding sources for the Program throughout the United States.

TRAINING
The National Center trains and certifies each local Site Coordinator by preparing them to:
• Establish a local Parent-Child Home Program site;
• Hire, train, and supervise Home Visitors; and
• Provide successful home visits themselves.

CERTIFICATION
Quality assurance is critical to maintaining the success of The Parent-Child Home Program and is a primary focus of the National Center. The National Center provides comprehensive training, annual evaluations, and ongoing technical assistance, support, and guidance, all sites operate in accordance with The Parent-Child Home Program's guidelines. Each site is periodically evaluated by the National Center to ensure that it is operating within Program guidelines and is providing quality services to families. The National Center also provides sites with informational materials, follow-up training, administrative written materials and training videos and manuals.

“Children who complete The Parent-Child Home Program are not only entering school ready to learn, they are truly “soaring to success!” They are reading above grade level, they are enjoying school, and their parents are not only celebrating their children’s successes but are also accessing educational opportunities of their own.” SARAH E. WALZER, J.D., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE PARENT-CHILD HOME PROGRAM

ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Parent-Child Home Program's annual conference is the most anticipated event of the year for all members of The Parent-Child Home Program network; including Site Coordinators and Home Visitors and our many partners and sponsors. It is also well-attended by members of the early childhood, emergent literacy and school readiness communities. The National Center organizes and hosts the annual 2-day event, bringing together Site Coordinators from around the country, and occasionally from abroad as well, to share experiences and information. The conference also provides an opportunity to update coordinators on developments in early childhood education and Parent-Child Home Program research. Experts from various areas of early childhood development and education provide in-depth information to help Parent-Child Home Program Site Coordinators provide more effective services and become better leaders.

Annual Conference (May 2008)

THE NATIONAL CENTER ALSO:
• Manages The Parent-Child Home Program website;
• Produces a quarterly newsletter that is distributed to over 4,000 individuals and organizations;
• Oversees research projects;
• Provides information and guidance on how to establish sites; and
• Conducts workshops, presentations, and meetings for wide-range of organizations and individuals.

History

Incorporated in 1979, The Parent-Child Home Program, Inc.'s National Center serves as the Program's central headquarters. Since the National Center's inception, staff has worked with organizations and governmental entities from around the country to replicate the Program and to ensure that these replications provide quality services for at-risk toddlers and their families. The Program continues to expand at a rapid rate and has become well-known within the early childhood, early literacy, and school readiness communities. The National Center is directed by Sarah Walzer, whose years of experience in program development and public policy pertaining to early childhood education and related issues have allowed The Parent-Child Home Program to expand exponentially since her arrival in 1997. She works closely with the Board of Directors, National Center staff, state and local government officials overseeing Program sites, Site Coordinators, and The Parent-Child Home Program's founder, Dr. Phyllis Levenstein, who continued to be active force in The Parent-Child Home Program until her death in May 2005. More History Top of Page