Improve Early Grade-Level Reading

Enhancing Parenting Skills

What Can Policymakers Do?

• Provide for parent education services particularly targeting vulnerable parents through:
• Home visiting programs that are an effective vehicle for parent education and have demonstrated a significant impact on long-term child outcomes. Missouri’s Governor recently expanded Parents as Teachers, an evidence-based home-visiting program started in Missouri in 1970 and replicated in over 3,000 sites. Arkansas has led the country in investing in the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngster (HIPPY). Several states including Colorado and Minnesota are working to make the highly effective Nurse Home Visiting program available to every low income new mother.

• Family resource centers such as the Family and Youth Resource Centers expanded by Kentucky's Governor provide comprehensive services tailored to the needs of each family. The program has been demonstrated to be effective at supporting families and ensuring that children are ready for school and achieving early academic success.  The Michigan Governor expanded family resource centers to schools. Connecticut has made significant investments to create family resource centers as the hub of community-based services.

• Ensure the availability of parent literacy skills programs. South Carolina promotes "Reach Out and Read" day, that highlights an effective  strategy of encouraging parent and early literacy through parent engagement by pediatricians.

• Support fatherhood initiatives.  Connecticut’s Responsible Fatherhood Initiative, was established by legislation to identify services that encourage parenting and assist fathers to meet the financial and medical needs of their children through employment and child support.