Family Resource Center / PAT (Parents as Teachers)

A FREE program, available to residents of the Bristol Warren Regional School District who have children ranging in age from infant to pre-k (0-5). Our goals are to improve caregiver knowledge of child development, develop parenting capabilities, and promote school readiness. The program uses a national scientifically valid and evidence-based early childhood curriculum.

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, these visits can be conducted in person while taking appropriate precautions, virtually, or even outside.

Group Connections and Field Trips (Currently on hold due to COVID-19)—Attend our Group Connections at Reynolds Art and Wellness Center in Bristol and 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. Click here for additional information on Group Connections.

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.

Monthly 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.

Certified Parent Educators provide all four service components, customized to meet the needs of each individual family. We also offer playgroups and other enrichment programs such as field trips and parent workshops.

Outcomes

Parents as Teachers Children:

at age 3 are significantly more advanced in language, social development, problem solving, and other cognitive abilities than comparison children;

and score higher on kindergarten readiness tests and on standardized measures of achievement in early grades.

Parents as Teachers Parents:

are more confident parents;

read more to their children;

and are more involved in their children's education.

Contact Information
Parents as Teachers Program Manager
Emily Spence
(401) 245-1460 ext. 8510
emily.spence@bwrsd.org

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 Friends Board of Directors for the Rogers Free Library 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 has three children.

Ashley Taber-Szala, Parent Educator

Ashley Szala joined the PAT team in 2020. For over fifteen years, Ashley has worked with families across the country in a wide range of behavioral roles and educational settings. In addition to her role with PAT, Ashley is the Parent Coordinator for Momentum Behavioral Services.