Heartland Early Education Earns Blue Ribbon Designation for Parents as Teachers Program

Heartland Early Education has received the Blue Ribbon designation for its Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, a state recognition of excellence awarded to only 11 programs in Kansas during 2025.

The achievement was announced during the Salina Public Schools Board of Education meeting on January 13, 2026. Representatives from Heartland Early Education presented details of the designation and outlined the program’s services and impact.

Lisa Larson, director of Heartland Early Education, told the board the Blue Ribbon designation reflects a commitment to providing high-quality support for families through the Parents as Teachers model.

Parents as Teachers is a voluntary, evidence-based home visiting program serving pregnant women and families with children from birth through kindergarten. The program focuses on child development education, parenting support, and referrals to community resources, with the goal of increasing school readiness and strengthening family outcomes.

Program Manager Megan Wagner explained that earning the designation required completion of the Quality Endorsement and Improvement Process (QEIP), a six-month evaluation involving an 81-area self-study, documentation review, and interviews. Heartland Early Education began the process in 2024, submitted its self-study in March 2025, completed a coordinator interview in July, and received notification of the designation on October 27, 2025.

The Heartland Parents as Teachers program currently serves 48 children from 36 families. The program is staffed by two parent educators who manage recruitment, enrollment, home visits, developmental screenings, goal setting, and community engagement.

As long as annual essential requirements continue to be met, the program will retain its Blue Ribbon designation through 2030. Board members noted the program’s role in supporting early childhood development and improving kindergarten readiness across the community.