How Families Helped Shape an Award-Winning Program in Toppenish

Raising young children in rural communities can be challenging, and support for parents is not always easy to find. Limited transportation options, few opportunities for parent-child activities outside the home, and even fewer chances to connect with other caregivers can leave parents feeling isolated when strong support networks matter most.

 

Overcoming those challenges in our community is what helped our Parents as Teachers (PAT) program in Toppenish earn the Losos Prize for Innovation. The international award recognizes PAT affiliates that develop creative solutions to meet the needs of the families they serve.

 

Through regular home visits, developmental screenings, and ongoing support, PAT staff spend time listening to the families they serve. What they heard led to new opportunities for parents and children to learn, connect, and spend time together, including activities such as Zumbini®, infant massage, and mindfulness meditation.

 

With the addition of these services, families reported stronger connections with their children, greater confidence in their parenting skills, and increased social support. These expanded opportunities also gave parents a chance to connect and build community, marking a meaningful difference in their lives outside of the program.

 

The Losos award also recognizes our PAT program's efforts to reach new families in ways that reflect their cultural experiences. Through a partnership with Yakama Nation's Sacred Healing Place, PAT was able to provide Positive Indian Parenting classes to more families in Toppenish while creating opportunities for cultural learning, community connection, and relationship building in the community.

 

Only two Parents as Teachers affiliates worldwide receive the Losos Prize each year. For our PAT team, the recognition reinforces an approach centered on listening first and building services around what the community needs. The result is not just new programming, but stronger connections between caregivers, children, and the communities around them.

 

Congratulations to Vanessa Frias, Community Health Services Program Manager for Parents as Teachers, and her dedicated team on this amazing recognition.