McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Winonah LaGrande, Katie Gaul, & Erin Cetera | September 7, 2021

This document may be printed, photocopied, and disseminated freely with attribution. All content is the property of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

Hispanic culture is rich and diverse across the United States and around the world! What began in the United States in 1968 as a week-long celebration of the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America has grown into a month-long celebration acknowledged from September 15 to October 15.


During Hispanic Heritage Month, early childhood program administrators and leaders can highlight and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the groups and individuals with whom they work: community members, children and families, and colleagues. Additionally, Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to highlight the need to meet cultural needs, such as enhancing educators’ preparedness to build on children’s linguistic and cultural strengths. Finally, it offers a chance to develop partnerships or solidify relationships with other organizations focused on providing equitable educational environments.


The Hispanic community is expansive and varied, and the Hispanic population in the United States has grown by 23% from 2010 to 2020. Researching the historical and current impact of Hispanic community members on the field of early childhood education yields a wealth of information, from ideas about supporting the use of children’s home language to celebrating to ways to prioritize family engagement, from supporting educators as they begin their careers to enhancing the skills of those who have worked in the field extensively. Books for children can help guide classroom activities, families can contribute knowledge about Hispanic festivals, and leaders can connect staff and families to supportive resources about the benefits of bilingualism and celebrating ethnic identities.


Developing cultural understanding of your program’s Hispanic families and staff members is an ongoing process for program administrators. Every enrolled family and staff member needs to be provided a sense of belonging, community, and interpersonal inclusion. Educators who can share their backgrounds, talents, and ideas are most able to provide the same support for their students. Wise administrators build time for sharing and collaboration into daily interactions with and among staff; they also consider individual backgrounds and strengths as they plan professional development to ensure expertise and culture are honored.


One of the most powerful ways to celebrate everything that children bring to their classrooms is to support and encourage the use of home languages in centers and schools. Teachers demonstrate they honor a child’s culture when they foster their home languages within the classroom. Teachers show this respect by reading stories, singing songs, and leading activities in children’s home languages. If they are unable due to limited language knowledge, other Spanish-speaking members can take the lead. Parent participation within the classroom serves as a language model for students and a means to integrate the child’s culture within the classroom community.


It is also essential to intentionally begin English as a second language instruction using researched-based instructional strategies during the preschool years. As children acquire English as a second language, there are often misunderstandings around proficiency. Although a child may speak English fluently, it does not correlate to academic learning in their second language. Children can use English as a second language within a social text within a year or two; however, it takes four to nine years to acquire an academic second language.


There are many benefits to fostering home language use with English as a second language supports in the classroom over time. Children who develop a strong foundation in their home language can more easily transfer their knowledge and understanding while learning English. Learning a second language builds connections in the brain and flexibility, leading to cognitive gains. Bilingual children have opportunities to access information in two languages and, therefore, are likely to make gains cognitively, linguistically, culturally, and academically, which may lead to greater economic opportunities. Read more here: Early Language and Literacy Development Critical to Academic Achievement. When home language use is supported, it cultivates a relationship between school and home, a positive sense of self and culture within children, and stronger family bonds.


It’s essential to support teachers’ understanding of individual histories and beliefs about education and to help them learn about cultural patterns and beliefs of groups. This can help them understand the students and families they work with and select the best teaching strategies to meet their needs. You can find more about this in the resource How to Develop a Cultural Understanding Within Your Program.


Classroom assistants may sometimes be the main point of contact with enrolled families and students, especially when they share the same home language or cultural background. This may mean that they learn essential information about families’ wishes for their children; they also have the opportunity to reassure families that their children’s needs, especially for social-emotional learning, are being met in the classroom.


Program administrators can regularly evaluate whether their staff members are able to meet the needs of enrolled children and their families. How have they been supported to learn about cultural practices and develop skills for communication? Do language barriers exist that are limiting participation? Families whose backgrounds differ from those of the staff may feel intimidated or uncertain about interacting with those they see as professionals and “in charge” in center- or school-based settings.


Partnering with community organizations to provide supports for families with these concerns and using online resources can help programs to prioritize family engagement that is culturally and linguistically responsive. In Chicagoland, one of these community organizations is Latino Policy Forum. Online resources can be found in the Head Start Early Childhood Knowledge and Learning Center here and here. As the school year opens, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month can be a great way to begin intentionally supporting colleagues, children, and families year-round.


Links to additional resources are provided below:


Winonah LaGrande is an Assessor and Training Specialist and a member of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Over her 15 years in the Early Childhood Education field, Winonah has worked in Chicago Public Schools as well as private early childhood programs with diverse populations.


Katie Gaul is an Assessor and Training Specialist and a member of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Katie has 30+ years of experience working with children, families, and teachers in various educational settings. She holds an ESL certificate and spent eight years working in Hispanic communities.


Erin Cetera is an Assessor and Training Specialist and a member of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. She has 25 years of experience directing early childhood programs in a variety of settings and communities.

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Building Community Partnerships for Lasting Impact

By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha • December 12, 2025
By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha Community collaborations can strengthen your early childhood program, expand services for families, and increase your visibility and credibility as a trusted resource in the community. But effective partnerships don’t begin with a phone call—they start with a plan. Start with internal planning Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: Members of your board of directors or advisory board Program staff members Interested family members and parents of enrolled children. REVISIT your mission and goals A clear, shared understanding of your program’s purpose will guide effective partnerships. Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: What is your mission? What strengths and expertise do we bring to the community? What challenges do our enrolled families face? What support or resources would be most helpful? What can we offer potential partners in return? Clarity about these questions will ensure that your outreach to community members and organizations is focused and meaningful. Learn about local resources Begin exploring the services and organizations that exist in your community. These may become valuable referral partners or direct collaborators. Examples include: Early intervention services Family support agencies Mental health providers Multilingual tax-preparation volunteers Knowing these resources helps you connect families with the help they need. share your space and services Your early childhood center may be a valuable asset for other groups. Consider offering your space to other programs or groups to strengthen your role as a community hub. Possibilities include: Scouting America or Girl Scout meetings Parenting workshops or support groups Health screenings or nutrition programs Community committee meetings participate in community events Raising visibility in your community opens doors to partnership. Become involved in: Neighborhood clean-up days Local fairs or festivals Library literacy events Cultural celebrations School district events These types of interactions naturally build trust and relationships. build and expand your network Partnerships often begin with small conversations or shared goals. Stay curious and connected—the more people you meet, the more opportunities arise. Potential collaborators include: Museums Public libraries Human services departments Colleges and universities Local schools Cooperative Extension services Hospitals and clinics Banks and financial advisors Mental health agencies Early intervention programs Remember: partnerships are mutually beneficial Successful collaborations are built on: Clear communication Shared goals Appreciation for each other’s strengths A commitment to supporting families and the community Whether the support you receive is financial, advisory, or educational, strong partnerships help everyone thrive. A final thought Community partnerships don’t happen overnight. With the proper planning, your early childhood program can become a powerful and connected resource in your neighborhood. Start small, stay open to ideas, and let relationships grow.
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