Global dance education connecting communities in Accra, Ghana and Kuwait City, Kuwait: tap(ing) to togetherness through a community collaborative program

Abstract

Parents and guardians are the first individuals who impact a child’s daily life. However, no single person is responsible for the growth and development of a nation’s children. Collaboration is critical to a successful community-based program. One often hears the phrase, taken from an African proverb, it takes a village to raise a child. The national program Parents as Teachers is built on this premise. It builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe, and ready to learn during the child’s earliest years prenatal through kindergarten. This internationally-recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by 35 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. The Parents as Teachers program currently serves nearly 200,000 families in all 50 states and one territory of the United States and through 115 traveling organizations in six countries. Identifying and addressing the needs of children in the program are done by increasing parent knowledge of early childhood development resulting in improved parental practices, providing early detection of developmental delays and health issues, preventing child abuse and neglect, and increasing children’s school readiness and success. Personal visits, utilizing the resource network, child screening, and group connections allow these results to be delivered. Tap To Togetherness aligns group connections and assists with providing these services for children and families, resulting in strengthening the bond that the families have together.