PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Research shows that providing high quality education for children yields significant long-term benefits for both women and children and science tells us that ages 0 to 3 are critical. Children’s experiences during these years influence how their brain processes information; in other words, whatever does or doesn’t happen in this time frame impacts their capacity for learning. In order to respond to this critical need for services, Holy Cross Ministries provides early childhood education and support for children ages 0 to 3 and their parents through the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program.
HCM'S PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:
HOME VISITS
Families receive two home visits per month and services are offered at no cost to the parents, with the goal of preparing parents to be their child’s first and most influential teacher. HCM’s Parent Educators conduct annual hearing and vision health screenings to identify barriers to a child’s healthy development, facilitate developmentally appropriate activities, provide early detection of developmental delays, assess the child’s social-emotional development, monitors the growth of parental life skills and parenting abilities and facilitates goal setting for parents. Unfortunately, we are at capacity for families in the Parents as Teachers home visiting program. Please contact PAT Program Coordinator Miriam Garcia (385-257-2414) if you are interested in entering your name on the waiting list.
PARENT GROUP CONNECTIONS
All parents of children ages 0 to 3 years old are invited to attend HCM’s monthly Parents Group Connection nights. These evenings feature various presentations on topics regarding child development. Please contact PAT Program Coordinator Miriam Garcia (385-257-2414) for more information.
Holy Cross Ministries’ Parents as Teachers Program has earned a quality endorsement from the Parents as Teachers national Center (PATNC). According to the PATNC, this prestigious endorsement is given to PAT programs who complete a comprehensive self-study and complete a review process that demonstrate they meet or exceed the Parents as Teachers Essential Requirements. To learn more about Blue Ribbon Affiliates click HERE.
HELP SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS
Holy Cross Ministries works to ensure that all children have opportunities to succeed academically. We believe that cost should not be a barrier for children to start school ready to learn. Please help support our program so we can continue offering these services free of cost to low-income families.
PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM STAFF

Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski, CSC
mpajakowski@hcmutah.org

Miriam Garcia
mgarcia@hcmutah.org

Hilda Márquez
hmarquez@hcmutah.org

Maria Elena Huyck
mhuyck@hcmutah.org
Project supported by funds made available from the Centers for Control, Disease, and Prevention in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (A# NH75OT000059 – Activities to Support State, Local, and Territorial (STLT) Health Department Response to Public Health or Healthcare Crisis. 2021)