Meeting Street Launches Parents as Teachers Program in Rhode Island
New home visiting program serving Providence-area families becomes the organization’s 12th early childhood program as Meeting Street marks 80 years of service.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — October 14, 2026 — Meeting Street, Rhode Island’s largest provider of Early Intervention services, today announced it has been awarded a contract by the RI Department of Health to launch a Parents as Teachers (PAT) program serving families throughout the Providence area.
The new program becomes the 12th within Meeting Street’s continuum of early childhood support and school programs that support over 5,000 children and families across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.
Parents as Teachers is a nationally recognized, evidence-based home-visiting model that partners with parents and caregivers during the earliest years of a child’s life. Trained home visitors meet with families where they are, helping parents understand each stage of their child’s development, build on their strengths as their child’s first and most important teacher, and connect with resources in their community. Regular developmental screenings are a core part of the model, helping identify potential delays early, when support can make the greatest difference.
“For 80 years, Meeting Street has been guided by a simple belief: every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential,” said John M. Kelly, Meeting Street’s President. “Parents as Teachers provides us another avenue to support families in their own homes during the most important years of their child’s development. Being selected to bring this program to Providence reflects the outstanding work and dedication our early childhood teams show every day, and the trust families and partners place in us.”
The award builds on Meeting Street’s reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality services for young children and their families. PAT will complement the organization’s existing Early Intervention, Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Early Learning Center and WIC programs, meeting families wherever they are in their child’s developmental journey.
About Meeting Street
Since 1946, Meeting Street has been a leader in early childhood education and developmental support for children and families across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The organization is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments where every child can reach their full potential. Learn more at meetingstreet.org.