Greenwich, CT – Jesica Alarcon has been recognized as a Parent Educator of the Year by Parents as Teachers National Center for her work with families experience intimate partner violence or depression in the region.
As a bilingual parent educator and doula with Family Centers, Inc., Alarcon provides culturally responsive support, helping families access vital resources by overcoming language barriers. She has also been instrumental in guiding families through safety and mental health concerns by referring 100% of families who screened positively for intimate partner violence or depression to appropriate services. Family Centers, Inc., has also been awarded this year’s Losos Prize for Innovation for their implementation of the Perinatal Continuum of Care Model.
Parents as Teachers National Center is the most widely implemented evidence-based early childhood home visiting model in the US. Parent educators support caregivers as their child’s first and best teacher through personalized coaching and goal setting, developmental insights and health screenings, connections to local resources, and community engagement.
Educators from across the globe are nominated by their colleagues or supervisors, with applications evaluated by a team at Parents as Teachers National Center. The award emphasizes cultural competency, leadership, community impact, and professional development, highlighting the importance of effective guidance and measurable outcomes in partnership with the families they serve.
“Over the years, I have provided families with valuable insight and support through our curriculum, but I have also learned so much from the families I serve,” Alarcon said. “They are truly inspiring, and each family has a unique story that deserves to be recognized.”
“She has become a bridge between families and opportunity,” her supervisor Andrea Payo wrote in the application nominating Alarcon for the award. “She continually seeks ways to strengthen her practice and better meet the evolving needs of families.”
Alarcon will receive the award alongside two other parent educators at the 2026 Parents as Teachers International Conference in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, October 5, 2026. The largest conference dedicated to early childhood home visitors in the US, it will bring together over 2,500 professionals and leaders in child development and family support for four days of professional development and networking.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers creates strong communities, thriving families, and children who are healthy, safe, and learning by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals for regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years, from pregnancy through kindergarten. With over 188,000 families served in all 50 U.S. states, 127 Tribal organizations, and six other countries, the Parents as Teachers evidence-based home visiting model is backed by over 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Annually, Parents as Teachers National Center supports over 10,000 professionals and partners with more than 2,000 organizations, including school systems, social service nonprofits, health departments, tribal organizations, and military installations.