FIRST STEP FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER

THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY, DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET, SAFE, AND READY TO LEARN. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWICE-MONTHLY HOME VISITS, GROUP CONNECTION MEETINGS, CHILD SCREENINGS, FAMILY ASSESSMENTS, GOAL SETTING, AND REFERRALS TO NEEDED RESOURCES. THESE COMPONENTS CREATE A COHESIVE PACKAGE OF SERVICES WITH FIVE PRIMARY GOALS: 1) TO INCREASE PARENT KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING PRACTICES, 2) TO INCREASE EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND HEALTH ISSUES AND GET CHILDREN THE NEEDED SERVICES TO GET AND KEEP THEM DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET, 3) TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, 4) TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND 5) TO PROVIDE PARENT AND CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE PAT CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD ON FAMILY STRENGTHS AND BUILD THESE PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN THE FAMILIES' LIVES. VISITS IN THE HOME ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MODEL. OUR TARGET POPULATION IS: AT-RISK, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-5 WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SERVING TEEN PARENTS, FIRST-TIME PARENTS, AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. FIRST STEP HAS TWICE RECEIVED THE "BLUE RIBBON" STATUS BY PAT NATIONAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUR WORK. WE SUPPORT 120 FAMILIES A MONTH WITH PAT HOME VISITING PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT CLALLAM AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. IN 2024 FIRST STEP SERVED 163 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, PROVIDING 2,299 PERSONALIZED HOME VISITS AND 29 GROUP CONNECTION EVENTS FOR FAMILIES TO CONNECT AND PLAY.

PRENATAL SUBSTANCE USE PUTS CHILDREN AT RISK. IN ADDITION TO THE RISKS OF SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE, THERE IS AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF RISK ACTORS WITHIN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT. PARENT CHILD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM, DESIGNED AND SUPPORTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THAT HELPS MOTHERS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, ALCOHOL/DRUG-FREE LIVES. ADDITIONALLY, SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO WORK TOWARDS PREVENTING FUTURE BIRTHS OF SUBSTANCE-EXPOSED CHILDREN. CASE MANAGERS, SUPERVISED BY A CLINICAL SUPERVISOR AND TRAINED BY STAFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ENROLLED WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THREE YEARS. CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE EXTENSIVE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE SUCH AS HELPING TO FIND HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES, AND LEGAL SERVICES. THEY ALSO PROVIDE LONG-TERM EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES. WE SERVE UP TO 106 WOMEN EACH MONTH THROUGH THE PCAP PROGRAM. PCAP CLIENT EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: A) CLIENT COMPLETION OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS, B) ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL/DRUGS FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS DURING THE PROGRAM, C) REGULAR USE OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, D) CHILDREN LIVING WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES (AVOIDANCE OF OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT), AND E) SECUREMENT OF PERMANENT, STABLE HOUSING. IN 2024, 70% OF CLIENTS HAVE PERMANENT OR STABLE HOUSING AT EXIT COMPARED TO 40% AT INTAKE. 98% OF CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM ARE CURRENT ON REGULAR WELL-CHILD VISITS, 80% OF CLIENTS HAVE CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILD, AND ONLY 18% OF CLIENTS ARE USING ILLICIT DRUGS, DOWN FROM 95% AT INTAKE.