McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Isabel Landa | March 19, 2025

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

In my previous e-resource article, I shared my story of connecting with a family and building trust through a shared experience. When the mother felt comfortable telling me her story of the trauma her family faced, trust was built. We were able to make adaptations in the classroom for her child, and we also reflected on best practices for supporting bilingual families. We also discussed the advantages of being bilingual at an early age (Byers-Heinlein & Lew-Williams, 2013). Let’s take a closer look at what that can look like.


REFLECTING ON BEST PRACTICES


The Business Administration Scale for Family Child Care (BAS-2) and the Program Administration Scale (PAS-3) both highlight the importance of soliciting information about the child’s developmental history and the family’s beliefs, culture, and childrearing practices during the intake process (Talan & Bloom, 2018; Talan et al., 2022).


Building Trusting Relationships


Supporting bilingual families begins well before a child enters the classroom. For families, it starts with the search for your program, reading reviews online, and perhaps taking a tour of the facility. From there, engagement continues through enrollment and the initial stages of the child’s experience in your program. It is crucial to create a welcoming environment from the start. Below are some actionable tips for welcoming and supporting bilingual families:


  • Respect Culture, Language, and Community
  • Learn a few words or phrases in the child’s primary language to help them feel more comfortable.
  • Use technology to assist in language learning if an interpreter is unavailable.
  • Add questions to enrollment forms to learn more about the family and community context.
  • Create a Culture of Family Engagement
  • Utilize a Home Language Survey to learn about the language(s) spoken at home.
  • Maintain daily two-way communication with families in their preferred language, documenting notes and updates about the child’s day.
  • Encourage families to share insights about their children, fostering a deeper understanding of their needs and background.
  • Build a Welcoming Environment
  • Display pictures and posters in the classroom that reflect the diversity of the children and their families.
  • Use color-coded labels to represent different languages and make the space more inclusive.


Transformative Thinking for Bilingual Communities

As educators, we must reflect on our practices and take responsibility for how we partner with bilingual families. Consider the following questions to help you assess and improve your approach:


  • How do you build trust with bilingual families who may be reluctant to disclose personal information to protect their identity?
  • Do you have clear policies to protect bilingual families’ linguistic preferences?
  • Do you analyze the impact of your work on bilingual families and children?


Though creating change is challenging, it begins with small steps. By understanding your community profile and tailoring intake questions and language surveys to gather more meaningful information, you build trust and authentic relationships with families.


Being bilingual is a unique experience requiring constant learning and growth. We all face challenges in the pursuit of our goals. However, with intentional action, strong partnerships, and a commitment to cultural humility, we can transform the experience of bilingual families and children in our programs.


Want to learn more about the PAS, BAS, or any of our family engagement professional development opportunities? Contact us at pas.bas@nl.edu


REFERENCES

Byers-Heinlein, K., Lew-Williams, C. (2013). Bilingualism in the early years: What the science says. Learn Landsc., 7(1), 95-112. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6168212/pdf/nihms940156.pdf


Talan, T., Bella, J. M., Bloom, P. J. (2022). Program administration scale: Measuring whole leadership in early childhood centers, third edition. Teachers College Press.


Talan, T., Bloom, P. J. (2018). Business administration scale for family child care, second edition. Teachers College Press.

Isabel Landa, M.ED., is a Quality Training Specialist for the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University. In this role, she serves as a national anchor for the Program Administration Scale (PAS) and Business Administration Scale for Family Child Care (BAS). Previously, she served as an Assessor and Training Specialist conducting Environment Rating Scales (ERS) and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) assessments for the state of Illinois. Prior to joining the McCormick Institute, Isabel was the Education Manager and Teacher Coach at recognized non-profit social service agencies. Isabel has over 14 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in early childhood education and care. Her prior experience also includes accounting and retail campus banking. Isabel holds an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement and a Master of Education in early childhood administration from National Louis University.

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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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