Lindsey Shah, Director of Content and Curricula at Parents as Teachers National Center, discusses how family engagement is essential for improving child development and educational outcomes. She emphasizes that home visiting programs and strong family partnerships empower parents to become confident educators and advocates for their children. When families are engaged, whether through home visits, group connections, or resource support, children experience better developmental progress, stronger social-emotional growth, and improved academic readiness.
Shah outlines the Parents as Teachers model, built around four core components: home visits, screening, group connections, and resource connections. Each element supports parental self-efficacy, encourages trust between parents and educators, and strengthens community ties. The approach is grounded in empowerment theory, positioning parents as their child’s first and best teacher while parent educators act as coaches and facilitators rather than traditional instructors.
Looking ahead, Shah describes future initiatives such as a new mobile app for virtual visits, enhanced professional development for educators, improved cultural responsiveness, and expanded family leadership in program design, reinforcing the goal of building strong families and connected communities.