OSDH Selected as Official State Office for Parents as Teachers Organization

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has been selected as the official state office for the Parents as Teachers (PAT) affiliates. The office joins 25 state and country offices nationally and internationally, which work with the national center to provide support and resources for professionals and organizations in the child development and education continuum. PAT provides programs and services that support parents as they guide their children’s growth and development during the critical early years of a child’s development through home visitation. State offices are organizations identified as having the capacity and expertise to fulfill the roles and responsibilities outlined by the national center. The offices provide leadership and support for PAT affiliates in their respective states, and comply with and build upon the essential responsibilities necessary to maintain status as a partner organization. Suzy Gibson will serve as the program’s state leader as she works directly with state and federally funded Child Abuse Prevention programs throughout the state. With more than 25 years of experience in the field of family support and child development, she has contributed to statewide efforts reducing child abuse and neglect, and strengthening Oklahoma families. “It is a great honor to be named as the Parents as Teachers state leader,” said Gibson. “So many families benefit from the home visitation services we offer, and I am proud to be a part of such a strong prevention system.” For more information about family support programs offered by the OSDH, visit www.health.ok.gov.