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, 6th ed. (Pearson, 2013); Infants, Toddlers and Caregivers, 9th ed. (McGraw-Hill, 2012); Foundations of Early Childhood Education: Teaching Children in a Diverse Society, 6th ed., (McGraw-Hill, forthcoming); and Diversity in Early Care and Education: Honoring Differences, 4th 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 EverybodyChapter 1: Appreciating All Kinds of FamiliesChapter 2: Working with Immigrant FamiliesChapter 3: Including Families of Children with Special NeedsChapter 4: Creating an Antibias EnvironmentChapter 5: Respecting All Families, Including Those with Same-Sex ParentsSection 2: Partnerships with FamiliesChapter 6: Building PartnershipsChapter 7: Removing Barriers to PartnershipsChapter 8: Minimizing Competition with ParentsChapter 9: Supporting AttachmentsChapter 10: Considering AuthorityChapter 11: Focusing on Family StrengthsChapter 12: Helping Parents to Be Advocates for Their ChildrenChapter 13: Encouraging Parents to Become Advocates for All ChildrenChapter 14: Creating a Sense of CommunitySection 3: Honoring and Working with DiversityChapter 15: Understanding and Appreciating Cultural DifferencesChapter 16: Establishing Culturally Responsive Education and CareChapter 17: Working with Conflicts Around Education and Care PracticesChapter 18: Considering Cultural Differences in Guidance and DisciplineChapter 19: Working with Families Around What You Believe Are Harmful PracticesChapter 20: Thinking about Differing Ideas Related to How Children LearnChapter 21: Managing ConflictsSection 4: Family Participation and EducationChapter 22: Considering Family ParticipationChapter 23: Including Families in the Classroom or CenterChapter 24: Focusing on Fathers and GrandfathersChapter 25: Taking a Transformative Approach to Parent EducationChapter 26: Working With Families Around Holiday IssuesChapter 27: Exploring Parents' Role on Decision-Making Boards and CouncilsSection 5: CommunicationChapter 28: Creating Environments for CommunicationChapter 29: Empowering Self and OthersChapter 30: Communicating Through WritingChapter 31: Holding Ongoing Conversations with FamiliesChapter 32: Looking at Nonverbal Communication Across CulturesSection 6: Meetings and ConferencesChapter 33: Meeting with Families for the First TimeChapter 34: Thinking About Meetings in GeneralChapter 35: Holding ConferencesChapter 36: Considering Cross-Cultural ConferencesChapter 37: Talking with Families when Concerns AriseSection 7: Working with Parents around Specific IssuesChapter 38: Helping teh Child Enter the School or ProgramChapter 39: Maintaining Home LanguagesChapter 40: Easing Children Through TransitionsChapter 41: Brining Nature into Children's LivesChapter 42: Addressing Obesity with NutritionChapter 43: Dealing with Media IssuesChapter 44: Maintaining Stability During DivorceChapter 45: Coping with a Death in the FamilyChapter 46: Finding Community Resources and Making ReferralsSection 8: Challenging ConversationsChapter 47: Working with Parents Who Constantly ComplainChapter 48: Working with Family Members Who Appear HostileChapter 49: Talking with Families About Behavior ChangesChapter 50: Referring Families for Abuse or Neglect