50 Strategies for Communicating and Working with Diverse Families

Janet Gonzalez-Mena is Retired Faculty in Child and Family Studies, Napa Valley College, Napa California, where for 15 years she was on the full-time faculty until her retirement in 1998. Not only has she taught in the California community college system for 36 years, but also Gonzalez-Mena’s career includes being a preschool teacher in a bilingual program, child care director, and coordinator of a pilot program of therapeutic child care for abused and neglected children.  A prolific author, her textbook achievements include: Child, Family, and Community, 6^th ed. (Pearson, 2013); Infants, Toddlers and Caregivers, 9^th ed. (McGraw-Hill, 2012); Foundations of Early Childhood Education: Teaching Children in a Diverse Society, 6^th ed., (McGraw-Hill, forthcoming); and Diversity in Early Care and Education: Honoring Differences, 4^th ed. (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2008).  Janet also co-authored Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: An Introduction for Teachers of Infants and Toddlers (National Association for Education of Young Children, 2011). Currently self-employed as a consultant in early care and education, she also finds the time to write for Young Children and Exchange, and occasionally for publications in Canada and New Zealand.  

Section 1: Welcoming Everybody

    Chapter 1: Appreciating All Kinds of Families

    Chapter 2: Working with Immigrant Families

    Chapter 3: Including Families of Children with Special Needs

    Chapter 4: Creating an Antibias Environment

    Chapter 5: Respecting All Families, Including Those with Same-Sex Parents

Section 2: Partnerships with Families

    Chapter 6: Building Partnerships

    Chapter 7: Removing Barriers to Partnerships

    Chapter 8: Minimizing Competition with Parents

    Chapter 9: Supporting Attachments

    Chapter 10: Considering Authority

    Chapter 11: Focusing on Family Strengths

    Chapter 12: Helping Parents to Be Advocates for Their Children

    Chapter 13: Encouraging Parents to Become Advocates for All Children

    Chapter 14: Creating a Sense of Community

Section 3: Honoring and Working with Diversity

    Chapter 15: Understanding and Appreciating Cultural Differences

    Chapter 16: Establishing Culturally Responsive Education and Care

    Chapter 17: Working with Conflicts Around Education and Care Practices

    Chapter 18: Considering Cultural Differences in Guidance and Discipline

    Chapter 19: Working with Families Around What You Believe Are Harmful Practices

    Chapter 20: Thinking about Differing Ideas Related to How Children Learn

    Chapter 21: Managing Conflicts 

Section 4: Family Participation and Education

    Chapter 22: Considering Family Participation

    Chapter 23: Including Families in the Classroom or Center

    Chapter 24: Focusing on Fathers and Grandfathers

    Chapter 25: Taking a Transformative Approach to Parent Education

    Chapter 26: Working With Families Around Holiday Issues

    Chapter 27: Exploring Parents' Role on Decision-Making Boards and Councils

Section 5: Communication

    Chapter 28: Creating Environments for Communication

    Chapter 29: Empowering Self and Others

    Chapter 30: Communicating Through Writing

    Chapter 31: Holding Ongoing Conversations with Families

    Chapter 32: Looking at Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures

Section 6: Meetings and Conferences

    Chapter 33: Meeting with Families for the First Time

    Chapter 34: Thinking About Meetings in General

    Chapter 35: Holding Conferences

    Chapter 36: Considering Cross-Cultural Conferences

    Chapter 37: Talking with Families when Concerns Arise

Section 7: Working with Parents around Specific Issues

    Chapter 38: Helping teh Child Enter the School or Program

    Chapter 39: Maintaining Home Languages

    Chapter 40: Easing Children Through Transitions

    Chapter 41: Brining Nature into Children's Lives

    Chapter 42: Addressing Obesity with Nutrition

    Chapter 43: Dealing with Media Issues

    Chapter 44: Maintaining Stability During Divorce

    Chapter 45: Coping with a Death in the Family

    Chapter 46: Finding Community Resources and Making Referrals

Section 8: Challenging Conversations

    Chapter 47: Working with Parents Who Constantly Complain

    Chapter 48: Working with Family Members Who Appear Hostile

    Chapter 49: Talking with Families About Behavior Changes

    Chapter 50: Referring Families for Abuse or Neglect

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