Ideologies of Poverty and Implications for Partnerships With Families During Home Visits

• In Event: In Pursuit of Equity: Centering the Voices of the Experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Children and Families

Abstract

Early childhood professionals are increasingly called upon to be sensitive to family socioeconomic diversity, and to support families in making decisions about family functioning. This mixed methods study investigated how 4 home visitors and 12 families made decisions related to economic stability during Early Head Start home visits (e.g., navigating homelessness, seeking employment, accessing resources). Decision-making was investigated through qualitative and quantitative analysis of home visit transcripts, and qualitative analysis of paperwork and interviews. Across all data sources, assumptions and social norms regarding poverty resulted in a discourse of self-reliance. Emphasis on addressing poverty through individual efforts suggested embedded beliefs about individualized, rather than structural attributions of poverty, which researchers have identified as pervasive in U.S. educational policies and practices.

Author

• Christine L. Hancock, Wayne State University