New Voices/ Nuevas Voces Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood FPG Child Development Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
Why we wrote this grant Changing demographics in North Carolina: Professionals felt challenged to serve Latino children Requests for training and assistance from professionals Need for an effective approach to professional development on cultural and linguistic diversity
Project Goal To develop, demonstrate and evaluate a training and technical assistance model that will help early childhood professionals provide better services to culturally and linguistically diverse children with disabilities and their families, particularly Latino children and families.
Objectives To develop, demonstrate and refine the New Voices / Nuevas Voces Model addressing professionals’ attitudes, knowledge and skills on serving culturally and linguistically diverse children. To evaluate the effectiveness of the New Voices / Nuevas Voces model on: Promoting positive attitudes toward diversity Increasing knowledge about diversity Improving skills for working with culturally and linguistically diverse children and families
Model Components Training Curriculum Training Methodology Technical Assistance Process
What we are offering A 3-day training institute on serving culturally and linguistically diverse children with disabilities and their families, with particular emphasis on Latino children. Six months follow up technical assistance through consultation, access to print and web materials/resources, and listserv.
New Voices Training Curriculum Foundations of Cultural Diversity Cross-Cultural Communication Understanding Diverse Families and Their Roles Supporting Language Development in Young English Learners Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children
How New Voices / Nuevas Voces works: A diverse team is responsible for developing and evaluating the New Voices / Nuevas Voces model. Advisors include ICC members and a National Panel of Experts. NC state administrators and regional coordinators support project implementation.
What to expect from this institute? Dynamic, interactive training sessions Activities individualized to your specific needs Opportunities to apply skills and receive feedback in a supportive environment Strategies and skills for working more effectively with children and families from diverse populations On-call technical assistance Network of professional support (staff and peers) Access to extensive resources
Project Evaluation Methods All participants: Pre and Post self-assessment Session surveys Project Documentation Forms Subset of participants: Pre and Post Observations Pre and Post Interviews