Members of the Community Concepts, Inc. Maine Families Program team, front from left, are Kathy O’Neal, Ashley Akers, Sophia Andree, Briana Willhoite, Rebecca Bean holding Grimm, Denise Straiton, Danielle Rice and Elise Ring. Back from left are Stephanie Dunn, Tammy Beaulieu, Stina Maksimowicz, Claire Alexander, Michael Austin, Melissa Wakefield, Sandra Powers, Ruth Burke and Kelly Bean. Submitted photo
SOUTH PARIS — The Community Concepts, Inc. Maine Families Program has earned an endorsement from Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc. as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate.
This recognition marks the program as one of the top performing home-visiting affiliates within Parents as Teachers’ international network. The official designation was made in October.
Being named a Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that the program is a high-quality member of the home-visiting field, implementing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity, according to a news release from Kelsey Cote, communications manager, Community Concepts, Inc.
Families in Androscoggin, Oxford, and northern Cumberland counties are positively impacted by the services the program delivers, including home visits, group connections, child screening, and connections to community resources. Maine Families 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 Mary-Rita Reinhard, interim CEO of Community Concepts. “Blue Ribbon Affiliates are exemplary programs, delivering the highest quality services to children and families.”
Implementation with quality and fidelity is vital in home-visiting programs, since it determines a program’s effectiveness in accomplishing its goals and intended outcomes. It also verifies that a program is being implemented as designed. Parents as Teachers’ endorsement process demonstrates an affiliate’s accountability and credibility to the community, its funders, elected officials, and the partner organizations with which they work.
“We are proud to receive the Blue Ribbon designation by Parents as Teachers,” said Melissa Wakefield, CCI’s Maine Families program manager. “This designation represents the dedication that we have in providing the highest quality services available through the Parents as Teachers model.”
Check out other upcoming area events!
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
