USD 231 Parents as Teachers has been awarded Blue Ribbon Affiliate status by National Parents as Teachers, the largest evidence-based early childhood home visiting program in the United States. The distinction recognizes the organization's highest standards for quality and model fidelity, making USD 231 Parents as Teachers one of the top-performing home visiting affiliates within the Parents as Teachers international network. This is the organization's fourth time receiving the award.
The in-depth Quality Endorsement Improvement Process, which Affiliates complete every five
years to ensure alignment with organizational requirements, identifies programs that reach
benchmarks of excellence in quality service to the families in their communities. A designation as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that USD 231’s Parents as Teachers implements the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity, and that the services delivered by this program positively impact families in the Gardner and Edgerton communities.
The program includes home visits, group connections, child screening, and connections to
community resources. It equips parents with knowledge and resources to prepare their children for a stronger start in life and greater success in school.
“To earn the Blue Ribbon Endorsement, we underwent a rigorous self-study and review process from the National Center. The process confirms that we are meeting Parents as Teachers’ standards of fidelity and quality,” said Julie Wooton, program coordinator of affiliate USD 231 Parents as Teachers. “Blue Ribbon Affiliates are exemplary programs, delivering the highest quality services to children and families.”
Implementation with quality and fidelity is vital in home visiting programs as it determines a program’s effectiveness in accomplishing its original goals and intended outcomes. It also verifies that a program is implemented as designed. The rigorous endorsement process of Parents as Teachers demonstrates an affiliate's accountability and credibility to the community, its funders, elected officials, and the partner organizations with which they work.
“This award is a reflection of the dedication of our parent educators and the strong partnerships within our community,” said Julie Wootton. “Together, we are helping parents be their child’s first and best teacher.”