Tag Archives: early childhood education

Book Fair!

A child and her mom pick out a book from a display of books on a table.

Every day is Children’s Book Day at Corona Head Start

A child and her mom pick out a book from a display of books on a table.

Ollie, 3, gets an assist from Mom to reach a book of interest (see which book below!).

April 2 is celebrated as International Children’s Book Day, in honor of beloved author Hans Christian Andersen. Ahead of the yearly observance, our Corona Head Start classrooms organized a book fair that promoted the Children’s Book Day mission of instilling in children an enduring love of reading.

Children used play money to “buy” books that they could take home, read together with their families, and enjoy over and over again.

“The book fair fostered so many aspects of child development,” says Senior Program Director Yolanda Vega, LMSW. “Children were able to browse through the displays and were given a certain amount of play money with which to buy books of their choosing. Teachers operated the play cash registers. Parents and caregivers were invited to make the event a family affair. That’s math, literacy, and family engagement. And the children had a blast, which is always the goal—to associate learning with fun!”

A boy stands on tiptoes to pay a cashier while his dad stands by his side.

Jahel, 4, with his dad as he pays the cashier, a.k.a. his teacher, Ms. Flor, for the book he selected.

Reading and literacy are central to Child Center early childhood education programs. Our centers offer lending libraries from which families can check out books in their native language to read together at home. Daily class time readings by teachers, parents, and other guest readers align with learning themes.

For our tiniest learners, Early Head Start home visitors model for parents and other caregivers how to read and talk about books. Home-based Early Head Start families also benefit from the award-winning ParentChild+ curriculum, through which they receive free books and toys and guidance on using them.

At the book fair, 3-year-old Ollie, pictured above, knew exactly which book she wanted. She picked a book titled Ollie’s Book as soon as she recognized her name on the front cover.

“Ollie’s teacher, Ms. Alex Pichardo, noted that the book fair gave Ollie the opportunity to transfer her learning of writing her name in class to the outside world,” Yolanda reports. “Opportunities like these are one of the many reasons why events like this are so important.”

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month: Lessons from a Career in Early Childhood Education and Behavioral Health

The blog author and her colleague pose in front of the US Capitol

By Linda Rodriguez, SVP, Behavioral Health, Early Childhood, and Community Partnerships

The blog author and her colleague pose in front of the US Capitol

Blog author Linda Rodriguez (left) and Early Childhood Education Vice President Tanya Krien at the 2024 National Head Start Association Leadership Conference

Every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) and Women’s History Month (WHM) serve as powerful reminders of the progress made toward gender equality—and the work still ahead. In 2025, the themes #AccelerateAction for Gender Equality (IWD) and Moving Forward Together: Women Educating and Inspiring Generations (WHM) work together in a way that gets to the heart of our twofold obligation: honoring the crucial role women play in shaping the future by passing down knowledge, breaking barriers, and empowering others; and supporting women now—not just future generations. We can best accomplish both these imperatives by supporting those who work in women-dominated fields in their efforts to help their fields change and grow.

The Power of “Women’s Work”

As the Child Center Senior Vice President who oversees behavioral health and early childhood education, I am immersed in two traditionally women-dominated fields, both of which are very much rooted in the concept of social-emotional development and nurturing. Today’s women bring so much to the table. They are not only overwhelmingly women, but also increasingly women of color. At The Child Center, our team is 76 percent women and more than 80 percent people of color. We also employ team members from around the world. When they bring their diversity of experience to the workplace, we all benefit. It is incredibly important that educators and clinicians bring their diversity, language capacity, and cultural humility to the work. This is how we meet the needs of clients in a way that speaks to them, engenders trust, and makes personal and large-scale progress possible.

Pay Equity is Key to Gender Equality

It is hard to overestimate the importance of this work, yet the people who work in these two traditionally women-dominated fields are also—and not coincidentally—traditionally underpaid. While education in general is known for its low compensation, those in early childhood education get paid even less, even though they often have the same qualifications in terms of being certified, holding a master’s degree, and so on. Pay equity must be central to any efforts toward gender equality.

Influencing Change in Women-Dominated Fields

Beyond pay equity, we must elevate the voices of women leaders in fields like education and behavioral health and bolster their ability to influence the process of change and growth from within. For example, women often are responsible for multiple roles and carry multiple, separate burdens to a higher degree than men. They frequently are responsible not only for the jobs they get paid for, but also are much more likely to carry the load of being the primary caretaker at home, sometimes of both young children and elderly parents. In addition to pay equity, we need to listen to women’s voices as they speak up for work-life balance and their ideas for accomplishing it in ways that don’t require women to compromise and give up one for the other—whether that’s through advances in education or different types of paid time off and leave. It benefits all of us to listen to bold, innovative approaches to removing systemic obstacles that too often obstruct the path to success for too many women.

Shaping the Next Generation

A girl turns on a flashlight and smiles.

A Head Start student investigates the workings of a flashlight.

Working in early childhood, I see the potential of young girls every day. They all feel like Superwoman. They play, explore, and take on life with such joy, such vibrancy, and such purpose and confidence. It’s heartbreaking to see how girls start out feeling limitless, only to gradually lose that confidence as they grow. How and why do they lose that confidence? And how do we help them retain and build it?

At The Child Center, we strive to remove any roadblocks that prevent children (and adults) from reaching their full potential. Part of that is introducing girls to a variety of pursuits and possibilities, and conveying that nothing is “not for them”—anything they feel passionate about and want to work hard at is “for them.” Starting at the youngest age and all through middle childhood and high school, we give young people myriad opportunities to find and develop their strengths. Even today, gender stereotypes persist—from “girls don’t like math” to girls not wanting to be too loud or take up too much space. But when children of all genders and backgrounds engage in something like math or science, or even business, we help to break down these harmful and limiting stereotypes. This is how we start the journey toward the end goal of removing those gender biases and making all professions gender neutral.

Equally important is fostering girls’ self-esteem and self-image. How do we make space for young girls to have a voice? How do we allow them to be decision-makers and create a network where they feel comfortable talking about how they feel and what their opinions are? As much as we look at economic and educational opportunities, we also must look at how we can ensure they have the confidence to be advocates for themselves, to be strong in their convictions, and internalize that it’s OK to be strong in their convictions. Especially on the mental health side, we often see girls who very much feel they are not able to voice their opinions, or they have a very limiting self-image of the way they are supposed to be and behave. That is one of the many great advantages of The Child Center being a holistic, multiservice organization: educational, economic, and mental health components of each person are not treated as separate entities, but rather parts of a whole that we can support together.

As I have transitioned through different roles within my career, I have looked more and more at striving to be an advocate for women, especially women of color. Every person brings along with them the voices of inspiration of other women—whether they are colleagues, family members, or other influential people. We always carry those voices and those examples along with us on our journeys. The intersection between culture and identity and strong female influences is where potential grows and thrives. Many times, I have walked into a room, and I’d be the only woman there. It’s important that when we walk into these spaces, we walk in knowing we belong. You might be the only woman, but you worked hard to get there, and you belong. Until we get to a point of true gender equality, we must make a concerted effort to convey to young girls and women that speaking your voice is important, your perspective is important, and it’s important that what you have to say is heard.

This year’s WHM theme of “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” reminds us that progress is a collective effort. By sharing knowledge, breaking barriers, and supporting each other, we create a future where every girl and woman has the opportunity and confidence to succeed—however they define that success.

Julissa’s Story

Julissa poses outside on her doorstep with her two young children.
Julissa poses outside on her doorstep with her two young children.

Julissa and her two children

At The Child Center of NY, we prioritize hiring people from the communities we serve, with a particular emphasis on hiring former clients. The benefits of this are twofold. First, hiring from the neighborhood is critical to fostering a cycle of opportunity. Second, community members and former clients understand clients’ obstacles and potential; in turn, clients trust them and feel their compassion. For example, 100% of Early Head Start caregivers reported that 100% of staff tried to learn about their family’s interests and concerns.

One of those staff members is Julissa Grullon, Early Head Start Assistant Director, whose daughter was a Child Center Head Start student for two years. Below, Julissa writes in her own words about her experience as a client and as a team member, and how the two are not separate entities, but rather two parts of a whole.

When I started the process of finding a preschool for my daughter, I applied to The Child Center’s Corona Head Start. It was literally across the street from my house. I thought it would be so convenient, and it seemed like a good program. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, took education courses, and worked as an assistant teacher at a preschool for many years, so I knew what to look for in a program. My daughter got accepted into the 3K class, and I was so excited.

The first step was meeting with Karina Herrera, the family worker at the time, for the intake process. The family of every child at a Child Center early childhood education program is assigned a family worker, who is trained to support families and recognize needs for services. Karina was warm and friendly, and I asked if there were any job openings available. I was pregnant with my son, and I told her I wasn’t looking for anything at the moment, but that if anything came up, to please let me know.

Two or three months passed, and I started bringing my daughter to school. I would see Karina in the hallway, and we would always say hello. A few more months passed by, I had just given birth to my son, and I asked her if any positions opened up. She said, “Oh, I think they are looking for a receptionist.” And I was like, oh, that’s great. Maybe I can do an interview. She said she would talk to the director and let me know. A couple of days later, Karina told me she spoke to the director, and that she would be calling me for an interview. I was excited!

I interviewed with Miss Lilly Rodriguez, the previous director. I told her I always wanted to be a teacher, so even though this is an admin position, maybe this is my perfect time to step back into education, and I could also work to get my master’s degree. To my surprise, she said, “I’m actually looking for a teacher. There’s a vacancy in one of the classrooms. Maybe this is perfect timing for you. You can start now while you work to finish your master’s.” She said we could test it out, and that I should come back and do a lesson with the kids. I did the lesson, and Lilly was like, you’re a natural, and I got the job.

My education, my previous teaching positions, and my experience as the parent of a child in the program all helped me in my role. As a parent, I saw firsthand how the program really encourages children’s holistic growth, including their mental health.

My daughter sometimes had a tough time emotionally. Ms. Meital, the mental health consultant, noticed that she had crying moments, and she asked me, “Hey, what do you think if I take her with some of the other children in the classroom and have some meeting time?” She takes four or five kids for 30 minutes and has a little meeting time to go over feelings. And I said that would be perfect.

That was really good for my daughter. They would draw pictures of feelings and read a book about them. She learned so much about her emotions and how to regulate them. It was a really good moment for her. And it also helped me as a teacher to recognize the importance of emotional health in my students’ education.

My daughter has made so many strides since then, and so have I. Even though I love teaching, I also wanted to try something different and earn a higher salary. I started looking for jobs but wasn’t finding anything. Then, funny enough, one of my best friends came here for an interview. I asked her what the position was, and she told me it was for assistant director of Early Head Start. I wished her good luck and told her, “I hope you get the job!” Later, when she told me she didn’t get the role, it was like a light bulb: Why don’t I apply for this position? At first, my supervisor was like, “I don’t want you to go! I don’t want to lose you in the classroom!” But I went for the interview with Aisha [Okoro, Senior Program Director of Early Head Start]. Everything went well, and I got the position.

As assistant director, I supervise the home visitors: make sure they are going to their home visits, make sure assessments are completed accurately and on time, and support them in any way that I can. I miss working directly with the kids at times, but I love supporting people in their roles and knowing I’m making a difference in so many lives: I’m helping the home visitors be the best they can be, and I’m helping families support their children.

Since I grew up here in Corona and my daughter was a student here, I know a lot about the program from different perspectives, and I can easily relate to the families and the home visitors and support them. Being a teacher and having that classroom experience has helped me in assessing the child. So this position has been a good fit for me.

Funny enough, I got this position at the same time my daughter started kindergarten. She is doing great! I really feel that her experience here prepared her well—academically, socially, and emotionally. I was scared she would cry, and I wouldn’t be there to support her. But she hasn’t cried! And she loves it.

It’s kind of like we both graduated. I’m excited for this new chapter in our lives.

Photo of the Month: Studying Trees at Escalera Head Start

Escalera Head Start Director Tracey Elting and students of the 3-year-old class measure the circumference of a tree.
Escalera Head Start Director Tracey Elting and students of the 3-year-old class measure the circumference of a tree.

Escalera Head Start Director Tracey Elting with students of the 3-year-old class.

Taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather, the students of Escalera Head Start visited Central Park this month. The field trip coincided with their tree unit of study. Here they are measuring the circumference of trees.  

Our Head Start programs began using The Creative Curriculum Study Sequence last year. Study sequences last four to six weeks and explore concepts like wheels and trees.

October is National Head Start Awareness Month. Learn more about Head Start and Early Head Start at The Child Center, and how all our early childhood education programs emphasize hands-on, play-based learning that teaches children academic concepts in ways that make sense to them and get them excited about school! 

La Historia de Aleides

Aleides and his daughter.

Aleides con su hija, Jismerlyn. El Build-a-Bear en la caja que sostiene Jismerlyn fue un regalo de fin de año del programa extracurricular del Centro Infantil de Jismerlyn.

English Version

Cuando emigré a los Estados Unidos, pensé en un futuro mejor para mi hija, con mejor educación y oportunidades, algo de lo que carece mi país.

Mi hija Jismerlyn acaba de terminar el primer grado y participa en el programa extracurricular COMPASS del Child Center of NY en P.S. 56Q. Me gusta el programa COMPASS porque ha ayudado a las habilidades sociales de Jismerlyn, y la ayuda con las tareas que forma parte del programa la ha llevado a tener un buen desempeño en su educación. Además, puedo trabajar en paz sabiendo que mi hija está en un entorno seguro.

A Jismerlyn le encanta el programa porque puede estar con sus amigos y también aprender nuevas habilidades. Su desarrollo con la lectura es mejor que el año pasado, debido al programa de palabras a la vista. A Jismerlyn le encantan los libros, y la pillo leyendo en casa a menudo. La he visto crecer con su interacción diaria con sus compañeros y en casa. A Jismerlyn le encanta todo lo relacionado con el programa. Y me encanta que mis sueños para ella ya se estén haciendo realidad.


Aleides’s Story

Aleides and his daughter.

Aleides with his daughter, Jismerlyn. The Build-a-Bear in the box Jismerlyn is holding was an end-of-year gift from Jismerlyn’s Child Center afterschool program.

When I immigrated to the United States, I thought of a better future for my child, with better education and opportunity, something that my country lacks.

My daughter Jismerlyn just finished first grade and is a participant in The Child Center of NY’s COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 56Q. I like the COMPASS program because it has helped Jismerlyn’s social skills, and the homework help that is a part of the program has led to her doing well in her education. Also, I can work in peace knowing that my daughter is in a safe environment.

Jismerlyn loves the program because she can be with her friends and also learn new skills. Her development with reading is better than last year because of the sight word program. Jismerlyn loves books, and I catch her reading at home often. I have seen her growth with her daily interaction with her peers and at home. Jismerlyn loves everything about the program. And I love that my dreams for her are already becoming true.

How Head Start Helped a Migrant Family

Corona Head Start Senior Program Director Yolanda Vega with Johana and her two children, a migrant family.

A long-time Child Center employee reflects.

By Yolanda Vega, LMSW
Senior Program Director, Head Start Corona

Corona Head Start Senior Program Director Yolanda Vega with Johana and her two children, a migrant family.

Blog author Yolanda Vega (far right) with Johana (center) and her two children

This is a story about a family who traveled on foot from South America to the United States.

Johana and her partner, José, had their first child in Venezuela. When their first child was one, Johana and José made the decision to leave the country, as economic and political turmoil made it increasingly more difficult to get by. The family then settled in Peru for six years where they welcomed their second child. In 2022, the family made the difficult decision to leave Peru, facing economic hardship and challenges accessing critical services and resources because they were not recognized as citizens; only their baby, who was born on Peruvian soil, was considered a citizen. Traveling by foot through Mesoamerica and Mexico with two small children, Johana and José were determined to make it to the U.S. to provide the best future possible for their family.

I met the family in the fall of 2023, shortly after they had finally made it to the United States. I made a recruitment outreach visit with my co-worker Aaron McIntyre, Corona Head Start’s family service coordinator, to the homeless shelter where the family lives. It is customary for us to conduct these outreach efforts to let families in the community know of our program. On the day Aaron and I met Johana and her young son Misael, I was immediately struck by Johana’s enthusiasm for our program. She wanted to give her child the opportunity to learn how to read and write, as she never learned these skills and knew how hard life was without them. She wanted better for her son and worried that she couldn’t teach him. Aaron and I quickly shifted our attention to speaking with mom rather than showing her pamphlets and forms. We talked, and Johana listened attentively. She was so happy to learn that her son would be eligible, and about all he would learn at Head Start, including, though not limited to, academic readiness, so that he could begin his educational journey at the same level as his peers, and her own lack of knowledge would not hold him back.

Many of our migrant families have made the trip north through very dangerous circumstances, especially when walking through the “frontera,” or the divide between two countries, which many times is filled with gangs and other perilous circumstances. This family, sadly, was no exception. They were robbed in two countries. One time, the robbers pulled out machetes and stated they would slaughter them if they did not give up their cash. Though they had little money with them, who can argue with a machete against their throat?

The family’s journey through eight countries took them through Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and, finally, Mexico, where they surrendered to U.S. immigration officials and, eventually, got on a bus to New York for a 36-hour ride to the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, where all migrants are taken upon their arrival to New York. After they completed the process for entering a shelter, the family was given a room with a kitchen and their own bathroom. When the family got to their room, Johana got on the floor to thank God for finally having a bed for her family to sleep on.

After the family had been living at the Manhattan shelter for a year, the NYC Department of Homeless Services moved them to a shelter in Corona, Queens, which is how my team and I came to meet them and enroll Misael in our Corona Head Start program, where he has been thriving.

After assessing Misael’s development in various areas, as we always do with students, our Head Start team worked with Johana to get Misael evaluated through the New York State Department of Education (DOE) Committee for Pre-School Special Education for a suspected speech delay. As Johana awaits word about Misael’s placement for speech therapy (which we can provide on-site through a collaboration with the DOE), Misael is flourishing in the classroom. The class’s language immersion has helped him tremendously. He is able to state his wants and needs to his teachers, which he hadn’t been able to do previously. As a result of being understood, he is much calmer and ready to learn.

The Child Center takes a holistic approach to serving families, and while we care for Misael’s development, we also help the family meet other needs. Both Misael and his brother received backpacks filled with school supplies that they can use in their shelter room, pajamas, sneakers, books, and coats. Through the collection efforts of several of our teachers, Johana received much-needed shoes, a coat, and other clothing.

Johana is extremely grateful for all of what she has gained from being connected to our program, and she often comes to my office to keep me posted on the jobs she and her husband have taken. Johana has found work in offices, though she doesn’t find openings as often as she would like. Her husband, who is a food delivery person on an e-bike, is busy working seven days a week. On a recent weekend afternoon while I was in my car waiting for the light to change, I heard my name, “Miss Yolanda,” and as I turned my head to face where the voice was coming from, I saw that it was Misael’s dad, who was waving at me. I blow my horn, and wave “hello.”

It is moments like these, when I run into clients, and they seem so genuinely happy to see me, that confirm why I continue to work for The Child Center of NY. The mission drives right into my heart, and I often think of that professor who said when I wanted to join the Peace Corps, why are you doing this when you are so needed right here where you are! Indeed, I love living and working in the communities I serve as it confirms: The Child Center of NY strengthens children and families with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives.

Yolanda Vega has worked for The Child Center of NY for 22 years, first as a part-time Head Start social worker, followed by promotions to assistant director of early childhood programs and director of one of The Child Center’s Prevention and Family Support programs, and now as the director of our Corona Head Start. 

La Historia de Lorena

Lorena and her family. The three children have all been students at Escalera Head Start.

De izquierda a derecha: Cándido (padre); Jennifer, de 7 años; Ximena, de 9 años; Lorena; Alexis, de 4 años. Lorena sostiene el certificado de premio de Alexis por juegos de rompecabezas.

English Version

“Tengo tres hijos que han sido estudiantes en Escalera Early Childhood. Mis hijas estuvieron en el programa hace un par de años. Mi hijo comenzó en Early Head Start de Escalera cuando tenía dos años y ahora está en la clase UPK. Comenzará el jardín de infantes en el otoño.

Todos mis hijos no son tan tímidos como antes. Mejoraron en el aprendizaje de la escritura, en el aprendizaje del abecedario y en la participación en todos los libros que leyeron.  

Yo también mejoré como padre. Escalera me ayudó a hablar con mi hijo cuando estaba llorando, y pronto dejó de llorar. Me ayudaron a ayudar a mi hijo a compartir cosas, recoger el desorden, comer, vestirse, ir al baño y cruzar la calle cuando van al parque a divertirse, el equipo de Escalera me ayudó con todas estas cosas, me ayudó a ver cuánto podía ayudar a mis hijos a hacer.  

Escalera ofrece muchas maneras de apoyarnos con la crianza de los hijos, y yo aproveché muchas de ellas. Estoy en el Comité de Padres, lo cual decidí hacer para poder retribuir al programa, organizar eventos y tener experiencia en un comité como este. Participé en las excursiones de la clase Health Bucks al mercado de agricultores, donde podía elegir frutas y verduras saludables para mi familia, y en las actividades del aula. Disfruté participando en las actividades de la clase ayudando a hacer las piñatas para cada una de las clases.  

Una cosa que estoy muy contenta de haber hecho, fue asistir a ParentCorps, que Escalera ofrece en el centro. ParentCorps me ayudó a ser más paciente con mis hijos, a ayudarlos a controlar sus rabietas y su ira. Aprendes muchas maneras de criar a tu hijo de una manera diferente a cuando creciste. 

¡Mis hijas están en 2º y 3º grado ahora y les va muy bien! El programa los preparó para el jardín de infantes, y ahora sé que mi hijo estará preparado y listo para hacerlo bien. Los maestros ayudan hablando mucho con los niños, haciéndoles saber que son adultos y que van a cambiar de escuela y de maestro. Ayudan a los niños a escribir su nombre, a saber los números y el abecedario, y a compartir cosas.  

Escalera es una muy buena escuela, con buenos profesores que ayudan mucho a los niños. Son muy pacientes y no tienes que preocuparte de que te juzguen. Simplemente te ayudan a ser el mejor padre que puedes ser para tus hijos.”


Lorena’s Story

From left to right: Candido (dad); 7-year-old Jennifer; 9-year-old Ximena; Lorena; 4-year-old Alexis. Lorena is holding Alexis’ certificate of award for puzzle games.

“I have three children who have been students at Escalera Early Childhood. My daughters were in the program a couple of years ago. My son started in Escalera Early Head Start when he was two years old and now he is in the UPK [universal pre-kindergarten] class. He will be starting kindergarten in the fall.  

All my children are not as shy as they were. They improved in learning to write, learning their ABCs, and participating in every book they read.  

I improved as a parent too. Escalera helped me talk to my son when he was crying, and he soon stopped crying. They helped me to help my son share things, pick up clutter, eat, get dressed, go to the bathroom, and cross the street when they go to the park to enjoy themselves. The Escalera team helped me with all these things, helped me see how much I could help my children do.  

Escalera offers many ways to support us with parenting, and I took advantage of many of them. I am on the Parent Committee, which I decided to do so I could give back to the program, organize events, and have experience being on a committee like this. I participated in Health Bucks class field trips to the farmer’s market, where I could choose healthy fruits and vegetables for my family, and in the classroom activities. I enjoyed participating in the class activities of helping to make the piñatas for each of the classes.  

One thing I am really glad I did was attend ParentCorps, which Escalera offers at the center. ParentCorps helped me to be more patient with my children, to help them control their tantrums and their anger. You learn many ways to raise your child in a different way than when you grew up. 

My daughters are in second and third grade now and doing so well! The program prepared them for kindergarten, and now I know my son will be prepared and ready to do well. The teachers help by talking to the children a lot, letting them know that they are grown up, and that they are going to change schools and teachers. They help the children write their name, know the numbers and ABCs, and share things.  

Escalera is a very good school, with good teachers who help the children a lot. They are very patient and you don’t have to worry they will judge you. They just help you be the best parent you can be for your children.”  

Replacing Obstacles with Opportunities for Migrant Families—Especially the Children

A Head Start classroom at The Child Center of NY’s Early Childhood Corona Center, where 10 to 15 percent of enrolled children are from migrant families. Photo credit: Vier Visuals

By Tanya Krien
Vice President, Early Childhood Education

A Head Start classroom at The Child Center of NY’s Early Childhood Corona Center, where 10 to 15 percent of enrolled children are from migrant families. Photo credit: Vier Visuals

A Head Start classroom at The Child Center of NY’s Early Childhood Corona Center, where 10 to 15 percent of enrolled children are from migrant families. Photo credit: Vier Visuals

Last month, I was honored to serve as a panelist for the Roundtable Discussion, “Children in Migration and Access to Services in NYC: Obstacles and Solutions Towards a More Inclusive and Cohesive Society,” sponsored by the NGO Committee on Migration, Subcommittee on Children in Migration. This event brought together experts and practitioners working to address the challenges migrants face with access to resources and education in NYC, especially for children and their families.

As Vice President of Early Childhood Education at The Child Center of NY, I oversee six Early Head Start and Head Start programs. These programs serve children under the age of 5 who are from low-income families and face other barriers to school success. While the children in our programs face incredible challenges, they start out with as much promise as any child. Year after year, our extensive data and firsthand experience show that with the right support, these children can and do flourish.

Of course, what constitutes the “right support” changes with the times, as everything does. It is up to us to evolve and ensure we are meeting the needs of today’s children and families.

Right now, we are seeing an influx of children from immigrant families who are living in homeless shelters. Additionally, more children than ever before are presenting with special needs.

During the panel discussion, I spoke about the experience of migrant children once they arrive here, what services are helpful, which services are lacking, and how we are—and should be—responding to their needs so that they can begin school ready to learn and begin life ready to thrive.

Here is what the right support for young children from migrant families looks like today in New York City.

More 1:1 attention. When children at such a tender age are continually displaced, their ability to form relationships is affected. They are not sure what to expect day to day, and this negatively impacts their ability to form secure relationships with their teachers and age-appropriate relationships with their classmates.

Immigrating to a new country—usually following and involving severe trauma—causes a lack of continuity on its own. That sense of instability is exacerbated by living in the shelter system, especially in light of a new rule that migrant families can stay in a shelter for only 60 days; they can reapply, but then they can be placed anywhere in the five boroughs. This means a child in our Head Start program in Corona, Queens, might be moved to a shelter in the Bronx and start all over again with new teachers, new children, new routines, and a lack of the kind of continuity that contributes to a child feeling safe and secure—that is, if they can even find a school that will enroll them.

We also see disruptive behaviors in the classroom as a result of children being overstimulated and unused to the structured environment. In a shelter, you have minimal toys and books, to say the least. Here, you have a plethora. Children who are unused to such an array want to see and do everything at one time, often without knowing the basics of how to play with toys or what a book is for. It may be difficult for them to transition from one activity to another. Sometimes they don’t have the language to say, “I want to play with this toy,” and it comes out as biting or hitting. With several children in each classroom fitting this description, the old paradigm of one teacher and one assistant in a classroom of 15 to 18 children is insufficient.

That is why we sought funding for a senior engagement specialist* who is a licensed social worker to provide mental health consultation and support to our Head Start staff, children, and families. This role is vital in classroom operations as well as in offering guidance to teachers and parents. For example, imagine a child who fits the description above: they are playing with a toy and are having a hard time transitioning to circle time. The senior engagement specialist might choose to give a task (sense of responsibility) to this child—for example, saying to the child, “Can you carry this book over to Ms. X for her to read?” This helps in the moment, and it provides teachers a model for future reference.

At the same time all this is going on, we are seeing a dramatic increase in children with special needs, such as learning disabilities and lack of language development. This applies not only to migrant children, but also American-born children who grew up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, 10 to 15 percent of children in our classrooms had special needs. Since the pandemic, that number is expected to rise to about 40 percent once formal evaluations are conducted. Although our teachers are trained in teaching children with special needs, the demand right now is more than they can possibly meet.

Mental health support. Just the very experience of immigrating is a trauma in itself; on top of that, families also have the trauma of whatever circumstances prompted them to leave their home country, from extreme violence to extreme poverty. Accessible and affordable mental health care, offered in the language they speak and delivered by clinicians who share lived experiences with families, must be a part of any solution.

Estaphanie, an immigrant whose son is at The Child Center's Early Head Start

Estephanie, with her husband and son, also spoke at the roundtable.

Estephanie, a mom of one of our Early Head Start students, spoke beautifully about this at the roundtable. Estephanie and her husband immigrated here from Chile. Shortly after they arrived, Estephanie discovered she was pregnant, and the basement apartment they rented was flooded. Thankfully, Estephanie found our Early Head Start program for her son. True to The Child Center’s commitment to serve the whole child and entire family, a family worker at our program earned Estephanie’s trust and assessed the family for additional needs. The family worker talked to Stephanie about mental health services, and the family is now enrolled in The Child Center’s Early Childhood Mental Health program. These services—early childhood education and mental health—work together to give Stephanie’s son the academic and emotional bright start that Estephanie and her husband came to this country to give him—and which all children deserve. Equally important, Estephanie and her husband are getting the support they need, too.

Physical health services. Children are coming to our programs without the typical vaccinations and often with significant health problems, particularly dental issues. Our teachers, family workers, nurse-practitioner—whoever most connects to the family—are trained to recognize these issues and refer them to needed services in a way that respects families. The result is that almost all our families get the care they need, as you can see in our latest Head Start annual report.

Building relationships and trust. This was one of main points I spoke about during the panel discussion: Building relationships with families is the foundation on which all other progress is built. Families listen to us when we suggest mental health services or a visit to the dentist because our team is made up of credible messengers: people who share lived experiences with our clients and are embedded in the community. We build relationships with families from day one, and we never stop. This is important also because parents and other primary caregivers are children’s first and most important teacher. We want parents to be engaged in their children’s education so they can support their academic journeys long after their last day in our programs—and that engagement starts with relationships.

In her keynote speech, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, noted that we have an obligation to protect the rights of children, and this right supersedes all other issues. This must be the underlying principle behind all policies and programs that serve children who migrate with their families to our city. They have the same rights as any other child—and, it’s important to remember, just as much potential, too.

*Thank you to First Rate for their generosity in funding this vital position, and to Excellence in Giving for presenting this opportunity.


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