Designing Professional Development Efforts to Support Refugee and Immigrant Family Childcare Providers in the Local Context

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Early Childhood Workforce Issues

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to learn more about the strengths, challenges, and aspirations of immigrant and refugee Family Child Care providers living in a low-income, multi-ethnic urban community. Our aim was to inform the design of a professional development program to support provider participation in our state’s QRIS, while at the same time being responsive to the lived experiences of the providers and the community context. Five focus groups were held in partnership with five community based organizations and 60 providers. Results indicated that providers experienced many challenges related to language and cultural barriers. Our findings inform the design of our professional development program to support providers in our local context.

Authors

• Sarah Garrity, San Diego State University

• Sascha Longstreth, San Diego State University

• Vanja Lazarevic, San Diego State University