McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Barbara Volpe | January 20, 2021

A woman wearing glasses and a suit is smiling in front of a flag.

Sim Loh is a family partnership coordinator at Children’s Village, a nationally-accredited Keystone 4 STARS early learning and school-age enrichment program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving about 350 children. She supports children and families, including non-English speaking families of immigrant status, by ensuring equitable access to education, health, employment, and legal information and resources on a day-to-day basis. She is a member of the Children First Racial Equity Early Childhood Education Provider Council, a community member representative of Philadelphia School District Multilingual Advisory Council, and a board member of Historic Philadelphia.


Sim explains, “I ensure families know their rights and educate them on ways to speak up for themselves and request for interpretation/translation services. I share families’ stories and experiences with legislators and decision-makers so that their needs are understood. Attending Leadership Connections will help me strengthen and grow my skills in all domains by interacting with and hearing from experienced leaders in different positions. With newly acquired skills, I seek to learn about the systems level while paying close attention to the accessibility and barriers of different systems and resources and their impacts on young children and their families.”

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

The year 2020 was filled with events that brought forth challenges to the physical and mental health of ourselves, friends, and families. Situations conflicting with our moral and ethical character were tested. As you reflect on the past year, what did you learn about yourself? What choices did you make when faced with a challenge? Changes that will occur during this coming year are still unknown; what can you do now to prepare for the possibilities that come with each new day?


Those who work in the field of early childhood experienced tremendous stress, adversity, and challenges with the onset of COVID-19 and social justice issues. Those who have always understood the importance of building resiliency in children who experience trauma and stress, found themselves being overcome by personal and professional challenges. As adults, how do you find a way to keep from being overcome by the adversity and stress? What actions can you take to build resiliency? According to the article, Building Your Resilience, “Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors.” As adults, our physical, emotional, and mental health can be affected not only by the challenges we face, but also by how we cope with the big and little sources of stress, difficulties, and trauma that we experience throughout our lives.


When I think of resilience as a process or a course of action I take when going through adversity, trauma, and stressful situations, it becomes something I can evaluate, reflect on, and develop. When the situation has resolved, I can review the way I coped with the situation: were the strategies I used helpful or harmful? Strategies might include a physical response: improve sleeping habits, eat healthier food, exercise. They may be emotional: write in a journal, talk with someone, learn to accept my feelings without judgement, take some “me time”. Or the strategies may involve a mental and/or spiritual response: practice mindfulness, meditate, take a class, volunteer for a cause or activity that helps others. After evaluating and reflecting on the strategies, I can readjust my coping mechanisms and also determine what course of action to take when faced with similar situations in the future.


There are multiple ways to build our resilience to be better able to cope with the stressors that arise in our lives. Currently, regardless of the type of adversity, my first step is to focus on the choice I can make in my attitude. I have control over my outlook of the situation and the actions I may or may not take. I do this by taking time to pause and breathe. As I breathe in, I acknowledge and accept my emotional response without judgement. It is what it is. As I breathe out, I focus on what is this experience teaching me, where is the hope to be found in this situation, and how can I can view this as an opportunity or possibility for me to grow. This is still a work in progress for me and I will not say that I have mastered this strategy. In fact, I sometimes forget to take that time to pause and breathe before reacting or I quickly judge myself for having a negative response or emotion toward the situation. But it is progress, not perfection, I seek. Each time a challenge presents itself, it offers me the chance to change my focus to that of possibility.


“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and
challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope.”


― Thomas Merton


May you continue to develop the strategies to build your resilience and embrace the possibilities and challenges of 2021 with courage, faith, and hope. 


Resources

App for Free Meditations

 

Articles


References

Building your resilience. (2012). Retrieved December 30, 2020, from the American Psychological Association.

 

For more resources for administrators of early care and education programs, check out the McCormick For more resources for administrators of early care and education programs, check out the McCormick Center Library and professional development opportunities.

Barbara Volpe, M.Ed. is Leadership Academy Manager for the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. In this role she coordinates and facilitates leadership and quality improvement training for early childhood administrators, teachers, and technical assistance providers. Barb has over 20 years of leadership and management experience. Barb enjoys developing trainings and has made many local, statewide, and national presentations. Barb obtained her master’s degree from National Louis University in early childhood administration and her baccalaureate degree in child and family development from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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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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