(Stoneville, MS) –Mothers in Leflore County now have a new resource for education, support and encouragement during pregnancy and early childhood.  It’s called Parents as Teachers™ and it’s a new program sponsored by Delta Health Alliance in partnership with Mississippi Valley State University.  The kick off is set for June 5 at 3:00 p.m. with a balloon launch at the LS Rogers Building on MVSU campus.

According to Karen C. Matthews, CEO of Delta Health Alliance, Parents as Teachers recognizes that the best way to help children become successful students is by educating a child’s first and most influential teacher, the parent.  “We want to increase parental knowledge of early childhood development best practices, help them detect developmental delays and health issues, and increase their child’s school readiness.”

Matthews also indicated that the program will also help mothers who are expecting.  “The Mississippi Delta,” says Matthews, “has an infant mortality rate that is too high and premature birth rate and low birth weight rates that are too high.  This program can help bring those numbers down.”

The program will begin in Leflore County with future plans to expand to other Delta Counties.

For more information about this program or any DHA projects, visit www.deltahealthalliance.org or Parents as Teachers™ at www.parentsasteachers.org.