The PAT Program is housed in the Office of Youth Services. It is a voluntary program that provides home visiting services to families in Somerset County. Services offered are personal visits at which time information is shared on raising babies and/or children, child development and available community based support services, parenting group meetings, screenings, and support. The PAT Program is funded by the State of NJ, Department of Children and Families through a contract with Central Jersey Family Health Consortium.

Services Provided:

In-home Parents as Teachers is an approved home visiting model meeting the evidence-based criteria of the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting program (MIECHV). The Parents as Teachers model has four dynamic components, each closely interrelated and integrated: personal visits, group connections, child screenings, resource network. Together, these four components create a cohesive package of services with four primary goals:

• Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices.
• Provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues.
• Prevent child abuse and neglect
• Increase children’s school readiness and school success.

The approach to personal visits, the cornerstone of Parents as Teachers, focuses on parent-child interaction, developmentcentered parenting and family well-being.

Transportation: This is an in-home program and Parent Educators meet with clients in the family home.

Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults
Community Services	Education Early Childhood Education Family & Support Services Parenting & Caregiving
Areas Served	Somerset County

Last Updated: 08/08/16