Local HIPPY Program receives Accreditation

According to the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) USA Web site, all HIPPY programs follow the HIPPY model: a developmentally appropriate curriculum, with role play as the method of teaching, staffed by home visitors from the community, supervised by a professional coordinator and with home visits interspersed with group meetings as the delivery methods.

Each of the four features of the HIPPY model was chosen and developed in a certain way to allow participation from parents who might otherwise not get involved with their children's education. Although HIPPY is for any parent who wants educational enrichment for his/her child, the HIPPY model was designed to remove barriers to participation, due to lack of education, poverty, social isolation and other issues.

Locally in Eufaula City Schools, the HIPPY model is taught to staff and used to make sure every home visit is beneficial to families.

Each year the local HIPPY program receives a site visit from a trainer from the national office of HIPPY USA located in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Last year after the site visit, Deltonya Warren, local HIPPY Coordinator, listened to recommendations for improvement and strategically planned for growth of the local HIPPY program.  Catherine Chapman was hired as a full-time program manager, and she attended training in Little Rock.

The HIPPY USA national trainer site visit for this year (February 2012) was an official visit for accreditation.  The national trainer commented on improvements made and how the staff goes above and beyond to make sure the program is effective and exciting. The local HIPPY program met or exceeded every standard judged upon and became accredited.

The local HIPPY program is now working on the next step of becoming a “stellar program.”  It has gone from serving 25 families in 2007-2008, the first year of implementation, to serving 67 families presently. Of the 67 families currently served, 23 are Hispanic. The goal for the 2012-2013 school-year is to serve 100 families and open up enrollment to citizens living in areas outside of Eufaula.

More funding is needed.  The continued growth and recent accreditation should help greatly in procuring theses funds.