Pictured L to R: Dickinson Center’s Parents as Teachers team Amy Murphy, Amanda Annis, Brenda Wurm, and Program Director Cortney Pahel
ST. MARYS, PA (October 27, 2025) -- Dickinson Center, Inc. Parents as Teachers (DCI-PAT) has been awarded Blue Ribbon Affiliate status by Parents as Teachers, the largest evidence-based early childhood home visiting program in the United States. The distinction recognizes the organization's highest standards for quality and model fidelity, DCI-PAT one of the top-performing home visiting affiliates within the Parents as Teachers international network. This is the second time the organization has received the award.
The in-depth Quality Endorsement Improvement Process, which affiliates complete every five years to ensure alignment to organizational requirements, identifies programs that reach benchmarks of excellence in quality service to the families in their communities. A designation as Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that DCI-PAT implements the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity, and that families in Elk County, PA are positively impacted by the services delivered by this program.
The program includes home visits, group connections, child screening, and connections to community resources. It equips parents with knowledge and resources to prepare their children for a stronger start in life and greater success in school.
“To earn the Blue Ribbon Endorsement, we underwent a rigorous self-study and review process from the National Center. The process confirms that we are meeting Parents as Teachers’ standards of fidelity and quality,” said Cortney Pahel, program director. “Blue Ribbon Affiliates are exemplary programs, delivering the highest quality services to children and families. I'm absolutely thrilled to have received this Blue Ribbon for the second time. Being a member of such a fantastic, committed team (Amanda Annis, Amy Murphy, Brenda Wurm, and former employees) who helped us reach our goal is such a blessing. Together, we were able to achieve this award because of our compassion, hope, and striving for excellence.”
Implementation with quality and fidelity is vital in home visiting programs as it determines a program’s effectiveness in accomplishing its original goals and intended outcomes. It also verifies that a program is implemented as designed. The rigorous endorsement process of PAT demonstrates an affiliate's accountability and credibility to the community, its funders, elected officials, and the partner organizations with which they work.
On July 19, 2005, DCI-PAT was established in Elk County, Pennsylvania. For more than 20 years, they have supported, encouraged and empowered Elk County families with children under five. DCI’s Children's Center opened on April 4, 2006. The PAT program is able to provide Elk County families with an additional educational opportunity thanks to the Children's Center. For kids up to kindergarten age, the center encourages unstructured, child-directed play experiences. Their goal is to build strong communities, thriving families and healthy, safe children who are ready to learn.
To learn more about the DCI-PAT program, visit www.dickinsoncenter.org/pat or follow them on Facebook at DCI.Childrens. To support the great work DCI’s Parents as Teachers Program is doing, partner with them by making a gift at https://givetodickinson.org.