Head Start Multicultural Principles for Early Childhood Leaders

Children and their families come to Head Start and Early Head Start rooted in a culture that gives them meaning and direction. The same statement is true of the staff and administrators who work in Head Start and Early Head Start. Head Start programs are effective when their systems and services support the cultural diversity of enrolled families. Furthermore, individual staff members must demonstrate their respect for and respond to the different cultures in their community and among their co-workers.

In 1991, the HS Multicultural Task Force published the Multicultural Principles for HS Programs following two years of research. These principles were developed to guide Head Start/Early Head Start staff in meeting program goals and serve as a framework for multicultural programming.

This training showed recent research and perspectives on critical multicultural principles and offered staff guidance on implementing them in their programs based on their current learning environment. This interactive presentation looks at the ten multicultural principles, the research and advice to support that principle, and questions and discussion activities.

Participants will understand their role and culturally engage with families to ensure that their children, birth to five, receive quality education and services.