Dual Language Services

Tri-County Head Start is committed to our Dual Language Learners, (DLL), and addressing all aspects of their needs, along with the needs of their families. It is our policy to provide services, both in and out of the classroom, in the preferred language of the family. In order to achieve this we strive to:

• Provide an environment of acceptance that supports and respects gender, culture, language, ethnicity and family composition.
• Provide an environment that develops social responsibility by providing mutual respect and demonstrating appreciation of cultural diversity and its significance.
• Encourage families to participate in school life by sharing traditions, music, dress, foods, and customs with children in the class.
• Prepare, serve and discuss foods that reflect cultural and ethnic preferences and differences.
• Address holidays with awareness of cultural sensitivity.
• Provide translated documents and other correspondence in the preferred or primary language of the family.
• Communicate orally with families in their preferred or primary language either directly or through the services of an interpreter.
• Hire staff, whenever possible, who speak the home language. Additionally, when many children that speak the same language are enrolled in a single center, we strive to hire at least one classroom staff member or home visitor who speaks their language.
• Promote family participation in literacy related activities in both English and the home language.
• Where practical, provide bilingual correspondence and English language learning materials to family members in order to encourage family involvement.
• Support, engage and educate parents in order to meet school readiness goals.

How are we achieving these goals?

Bilingual staff members are involved in the recruitment process, enrollment and orientation to Head Start.

Families receive correspondence (parent letters, notes, calendars, handbook, flyers, etc.) in their preferred language and, where possible, in a bilingual format.

Staff members receive training on basic Spanish phrases and utilize several resources to communicate with families in written or verbal format.

Resources are provided to families that provide Spanish phrases with an English translation for them to utilize for communication with non bi-lingual staff.

Interpreters and translators are readily accessible to make phone calls, complete Family Partnership Agreements, participate in Freddy Night, Parent Teacher Conferences, Home Visits and to attend community events.

Parents are asked to participate as volunteers in the classroom.

Parents are asked to provide activity ideas for the classroom via

– Ideas for the classroom
– Participation in Policy Council
– Attendance at Freddy Night