International Conference Breaks Records as Largest Home Visiting Conference
The 2024 Parents as Teachers International Conference in San Diego, California, shattered previous attendance records, drawing in a staggering 2,518 attendees, with 2,174 of these attending in-person and 344 participating virtually.
The overwhelming financial support, community partnerships, and endorsement from early childhood professionals and sponsors continue to propel the annual conferences to new heights.
The conference serves not only as a professional development opportunity for those in the field of early childhood, but also as a platform for sharing innovative research findings, encourage advocacy for the support of children and families, and connect and inspire those who are working hard on the ground every day to prepare children for school and life.
Conference attendees took part in giving back to the host community of San Diego by collecting over $4,000 and building 100 Safari Camp kits to donate to Promises2Kids, a local nonprofit serving children involved the foster system.
In honor of the 40th anniversary, two individuals were recognized with the Parents as Teachers Research Trailblazer Award for their dedication to advancing research in the field of early childhood. Recipients included Dr. Walter Gilliam and Dr. Joshua Sparrow. Dr. Gilliam is the executive director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute and the Richard D. Holland presidential chair in early childhood development at the University of Nebraska and serves on the Parents as Teachers Research Council. Dr. Gilliam has made significant contributions to intervention policy analysis with a focus on translating policies to effective services and enhancing the quality of pre-kindergarten and childcare services.
Dr. Joshua Sparrow is the executive director of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center in the division of developmental medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and currently sits on the Parents as Teachers Board of Directors. Dr. Sparrow is committed to addressing the social, economic, and racism-related determinants of health and mental health and focuses on community self-strengthening, community-based prevention,
and health promotion.
This year, the conference presented a powerful lineup of speakers, including Dr. Anton Treuer, an educator and advocate for Indigenous peoples; a panel of early childhood professionals from around the country discussing their experience serving immigrant and first-generation families; and Josh Shipp, an award-winning speaker and best-selling author. Attendees also took part in a live podcast recording of Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues hosted by children’s media specialist and inspiring speaker, Rachel Giannini, and pediatrician and Parents as Teachers Board Director, Dr. Dipesh Navsaria. It was also a celebration of excellence, honoring individuals who have been pivotal to the field of early childhood education including California Assemblymember (79th District) Akilah Weber, M.D.
International Conference Breaks Records as Largest Home Visiting Conference
The 2024 Parents as Teachers International Conference in San Diego, California, shattered previous attendance records, drawing in a staggering 2,518 attendees, with 2,174 of these attending in-person and 344 participating virtually.
The overwhelming financial support, community partnerships, and endorsement from early childhood professionals and sponsors continue to propel the annual conferences to new heights.
The conference serves not only as a professional development opportunity for those in the field of early childhood, but also as a platform for sharing innovative research findings, encourage advocacy for the support of children and families, and connect and inspire those who are working hard on the ground every day to prepare children for school and life.
Conference attendees took part in giving back to the host community of San Diego by collecting over $4,000 and building 100 Safari Camp kits to donate to Promises2Kids, a local nonprofit serving children involved the foster system.
In honor of the 40th anniversary, two individuals were recognized with the Parents as Teachers Research
Trailblazer Award for their dedication to advancing research in the field of early childhood. Recipients included Dr. Walter Gilliam and Dr. Joshua Sparrow. Dr. Gilliam is the executive director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute and the Richard D. Holland presidential chair in early childhood development at the University of Nebraska and serves on the Parents as Teachers Research Council. Dr. Gilliam has made significant contributions to intervention policy analysis with a focus on translating policies to effective services and enhancing the quality of pre-kindergarten and childcare services.
Dr. Joshua Sparrow is the executive director of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center in the division of developmental medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and currently sits on the Parents as Teachers Board of Directors. Dr. Sparrow is committed to addressing the social, economic, and racism-related determinants of health and mental health and focuses on community self-strengthening, community-based prevention,
and health promotion.
This year, the conference presented a powerful lineup of speakers, including Dr. Anton Treuer, an educator and advocate for Indigenous peoples; a panel of early childhood professionals from around the country discussing their experience serving immigrant and first-generation families; and Josh Shipp, an award-winning speaker and best-selling author. Attendees also took part in a live podcast recording of Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues hosted by children’s media specialist and inspiring speaker, Rachel Giannini, and pediatrician and Parents as Teachers Board Director, Dr. Dipesh Navsaria. It was also a celebration of excellence, honoring individuals who have been pivotal to the field of early childhood education including California Assemblymember (79th District) Akilah Weber, M.D.
