Myrtue Medical Center/HMS Learning for Life Receives National Recognition as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate

Myrtue Medical Center/ HMS Learning for Life has earned a prestigious endorsement from the Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc., (PATNC) as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate, making it one of the top-performing home visiting affiliates within the PATNC’s international network. The official designation was made on July 1, 2021.

Being named a Blue Ribbon Affiliate affirms that Myrtue Medical Center/ HMS Learning for Life is a high-quality member of the home visiting field, implementing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity. Families in the Harrison/ Monona/ Shelby communities 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 Affiliate status, 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 Lori Hoch, executive director of Myrtue Medical Center/HMS Learning for Life “Blue Ribbon Affiliates are exemplary programs, delivering the highest quality services to children and families.”

“Achieving Blue Ribbon status is a real honor for our parent education and support program born out of hard work and dedication to the parents of young children in Shelby County,” said Hoch. “Our Learning for Life team is excited to expand our services and outreach to Shelby County families with this quality designation as part of our resume.”

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, Elizabeth Anderson, HMS Quality Supervisor said. It also verifies that a program is being implemented as designed. Parents as Teachers’ rigorous endorsement process demonstrates an affiliate's accountability and credibility to the community, its funders, elected officials, and the partner organizations with which they work.

About Myrtue Medical Center/ HMS Learning for Life

We serve Harrison, Monona and Shelby Counties. We serve families prenatal through starting kindergarten. Major funding for the Learning for Life Program is funded by grants from the Harrison, Monona, and Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Board and ICAPP grant; for more information call Elizabeth Anderson at 712.755.4421

About Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers (PAT) builds strong communities, thriving families, and children that are healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The internationally recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by 35 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. PAT currently serves nearly 200,000 families in all 50 U.S. states, 115 Tribal organizations, six other countries, and one U.S. territory. Parents As Teachers National Center, Inc., is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Parents as Teachers affiliates operate in various settings, including health departments, hospitals, and schools, faith-based and non-profit organizations. For more information, visit parentsasteachers.org or Twitter @NatlPAT.