There is an alarming discrepancy between the number of words heard by the age of three by children in socioeconomically disadvantaged homes and their more affluent peers. This deficit has a negative impact on future school performance, leading to increased grade repetition in elementary school, increased need for special education and a greater likelihood of failure to graduate high school. Live I
nspired is a replication site of the ParentChild+ m, an evidence-based model that provides two years of intensive twice-weekly home visiting to underserved families with children between the ages of 16 months and 4 years who are subject to poverty, isolation, limited educational opportunities, language and literacy barriers, and other obstacles to healthy development and educational success. Over two years, each family receives a minimum of 92, ½ hour visits and acquires at least 46 new, high quality books and educational toys. Along with modeling provided by the home visitor, 46 curricular guide sheets are offered to the family for use if they choose. These guide sheets provide tips for verbal interaction, the serve and return of quality conversation and additional engagement, literacy, music and art activities. Through the visits, ParentChild+ early literacy specialists educate parents on the importance of parent-child interaction and give them the tools (books and educational toys), skills, and encouragement to inspire their children. The home visit staff, who through twice-weekly visits build strong relationships with participants, also connect families to a wide range of community resources including food, housing, health and educational services. As families complete the program, ParentChild+ guides them to ensure their children are enrolled in a high-quality center-based preschool (pre-K, Head Start or kindergarten) as the critical next educational step. For fifty years, ParentChild+ has been bridging the achievement gap for low-income children by strengthening the parent-child relationship and ultimately, increasing the language, literacy and cognitive skills, and the social-emotional development critical for healthy individuals, families and communities. The “light touch” employed by ParentChild+ visitors engages and empowers parents, preparing them to be their child’s first, best teacher and to take pride in their commitment to, and impact on, their child’s education. The goal of Live Inspired is that each parent feels empowered in this way and that each child will enter school prepared to learn, flourish during their years of schooling and graduate on time and become productive members of their communities. The emphasis that this program places on the parent-child bond is invaluable. Strengthening parents strengthens children. Sign up for email updates at bit.ly/EMAILLIVE
