Parents as Teachers Offers

Personal Visits—Your Parent Educator will share age-appropriate child development and parenting information, help you learn to observe your child, and address your parenting concerns.  With COVID-19 concerns, personal visits are being conducted outdoors (either in the backyard or at a local park), virtually, or in the home with or without masks. All Parent Educators are vaccinated.

Group Connections and Field Trips—Due to COVID-19 concerns, we are currently holding our Group Connections outdoors in Bristol and Warren.   Group Connections are a chance for parents to enjoy opportunities to share information about parenting issues and child development.  Parents learn and support each other, observe their children interacting with other children, and practice parenting skills. 

Screenings— Assessments of your child's overall development, as well as health, hearing, and vision.

Resource Network— Linking your family to services in the community.

Quarterly Newsletter— Letting you know about special events, recreational opportunities for kids and families in the community, and sharing information on varied parenting topics, and ideas for activities.

Meet Our Parent Educators

Emily Spence, Program Manager

Emily started in the PAT program as a mother of twins and became a parent educator in 1998.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters in Special Education.  Emily is co-founder of Bristol Warren Thrive by Five and Beyond, a network of professionals working with children and families.  She is a member of both the Bristol Health Equity Zone Steering Committee and the Bristol Prevention Coalition.

Kathleen Boylan, Parent Educator

Kathleen joined the PAT program in 2016 with 28 years of experience in the fields of human services and early childhood education and development.  She has an undergraduate degree in Human Services and Counseling and a Masters in Education.  Kathleen is the Family Visiting Workforce Council Chairperson under the RI Dept of Health’s Strategic Planning Task Force. Kathleen has three children.

Beth Porter, Parent Educator

Beth joined the PAT team in 2021. She has two children. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Elementary and Early Childhood certifications. She has worked with many different age groups over the last 20 years. Beth is also a trained Postpartum Doula.