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Parents as Teachers program warns of funding uncertainty; staff reductions shrink local services
Summary
A Parents as Teachers representative told the board the program is operating with a single full-time educator after funding was placed under a larger regional board; sustaining two full-time staff would cost roughly $120,000 annually and the program is seeking local options to continue in Van Buren County.
A representative of the local Parents as Teachers program updated the board on program operations and funding risks, saying the program has run home-visitation services since 2001 but is now operating with one full-time educator after a long-term staff member left and regionalization of the Children’s First service area altered funding.
The speaker said program operations currently run with one full-time educator and one paraeducator; she said replacing the departing educator and maintaining two full-time staff would cost about $120,000 a year for salaries and travel to reach families across the county. She noted the program’s national affiliation costs (about $2,500 annually) and listed other smaller funding sources that support group meetings, incentives and a supply fund used as a point-based reward system for participating families.
Supervisors asked about possible county or partner support and discussed referral and outreach strategies. The representative said the program provides in-home visitation and early-childhood screening services, is a mandatory reporter for child-safety concerns, and helps secure services like individualized education plans earlier for children who need them.
Board members offered to look for local funding strategies and to follow up with the presenter on options to sustain the program locally if state or regional funding is reduced.
