Serving refugee children and families in Head Start

Children Today, Sept-Oct, 1989 by Connie Broughton

The Future

The Bancroft Early Intervention/ Parent Project remains dedicated to the principles that parents are the primary educators of their children, and that what is best for the family is what is best for the child. In true Head Start fashion, refugee parents are volunteering in the classroom and working with their children as "teachers."

Some families have been in the program for four years, and the progress is encouraging. Two women are enrolled in a competency-based program to become child development specialists. Another Southeast Asian woman who had lived in the U.S. for several years but didn't speak English began taking ESL classes when her children began Head Start. Although her husband had not encouraged her to learn English or to drive a car, she went on to learn both. She and her husband are now buying a house, and they have moved far enough into the mainstream to be receiving "You may have won ..." sweepstakes announcements in the mail.

Finally, the entire Head Start staff has become more sensitive to the problems of bias and the need for cultural awareness in the curriculum, not only as it applies to working with refugee families, but in all efforts to be more responsive to the children and families that make up our multi-cultural society.

PHOTO : While culture and customs may differ, art speaks a universal language.

PHOTO : Informed get-togethers help refugee families learn American ways - and introduce Head Start families to their cuisines and customs.