Kansas Parents as Teachers Association (KPATA) is a 501(c)3 statewide organization that supports early childhood education programs in Kansas with a parent education component. We provide leadership, professional development, and advocacy to build quality programs throughout Kansas.
Membership is open to anyone who believes in the mission and impact of home visiting. Together, we are a powerful voice for children and families in Kansas.
(PAT) curriculum.
Mission
To be a leading force in the support, education, and expansion of Kansas Parents as Teachers (PAT) model affiliate programs so that all Kansas children will develop to their fullest potential.
History
Kansas Parents as Teachers Association (KPATA) was founded by a group of interested coordinators in the Kansas City Area Parents as Teachers Consortium at the urging of their advisory board. KPATA was created to meet a profound challenge: to better the lives of children and families in Kansas by strengthening home visitation programming.
The first organizational meeting was held in 2000, and 69 charter members joined on February 22, 2001. The officers applied for 501(c)3 status, and PAT Day at the Capitol became a signature event of the organization. Today, KPATA has formed alliances with the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC), the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), and the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to better support parent education programs across the state.