Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a nationally recognized, home-based early intervention program for three-, four-, and five-year olds that trains parents to teach their children. Parents and their children are given the opportunity during the two to three years they participate to develop a learning relationship that will last a lifetime.
HIPPY involves parents. Parents become engaged in their children's education and with the school. HIPPY provides parents with the training that enables them to better understand, communicate, and stay active in their children's education. Home visitors hired from the neighborhood deliver HIPPY to the home through one-on-one instruction in the parent's language. During each program year thirty activity packets and nine storybooks are taken into the home and role-played with the parent. Monthly group meetings provide socialization for the children and information and support for the parents.
From its beginnings at Travis Heights Elementary School in 1991, Communities In Schools HIPPY has expanded to reach five Austin Independent School District elementary schools citywide. Langford, Allison, Rodriguez, Pecan Springs, and Wooldridge Elementary Schools currently have HIPPY programs. In 1991, only 21 family received program services. During the 2004-2005 more than 100 families were served.
HIPPY works with several collaborators--Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), Shoes for Austin, The Early Start Coalition, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), and Success by Six/United Way.
Programming is funded by Austin ISD, Applied Materials, AmeriCorps, the Meadows Foundations, the Early Learning Opportunity Act, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), and contributions from individuals who care about education.
For more information, contact HIPPY project coordinator Melanie Walter-Mahoney at (512) 464-9729.
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