Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/from-near-or-far-welcoming-refugee-families-to-head-start/5022034/
Asked how refugee families are different from other Head Start families, Rico Alexander has a simple answer: they aren’t. As Head Start and Early Head Start Director of Parents In Community Action, Inc. (PICA) in Minnesota, Rico has worked with families from all over the world. What he means by his response is more complex: while refugee families bring diverse experiences and cultures with them, many of their needs are similar to all families �" not just those in poverty, and all of them are best addressed through the close relationships between families and staff that are a core part of Head Start programs everywhere.Every Head Start and Early Head Start program enrolls children and families based on the priorities set by the local agency. While eligibility criteria are set nationally and include all families who are below the poverty line, have a child in foster care or with a disability, or receive certain subsidies, communities must decide what the greatest risk factors are in their area and work to serve the most vulnerable children first. In many communities, low-income refugee families are among those with the greatest need. These families may be recent arrivals from Central America like those highlighted ...