The National Head Start Association stands against racism, discrimination, and hatred of any kind. We are saddened by the need to share these words again as we condemn the murders that took place in Atlanta, Georgia, and mourn the eight lives tragically lost, including six Asian women. We acknowledge that this is not an isolated incident, but one that has brought the nation’s attention to the rise in hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, stemming from derogatory, anti-Asian language around COVID-19.
Head Start proudly partners with families in every community across the country, embracing diversity as a strength and celebrating cultural differences. As we have spoken with Head Start leaders whose programs support predominantly AAPI families, many have expressed fear and worry for their safety and for the emotional well-being of the children and families they support. We hear these fears and we are compelled to address them by amplifying their voices and offering the support that each individual community needs.
Head Start must continue to embrace the role of educating children on anti-racism and empathy from an early age and equipping families to have difficult conversations around race and racism. Head Start’s children, all children, deserve a future that is free from hate. The Head Start community must stand together in condemning acts of racism and stand with our community partners, allies, and friends who are doing the work in pursuit of this future for our children.
- Yasmina Vinci, Executive Diretor, NHSA (March 23, 2021)
Supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community During COVID-19
- Supporting AAPI Children During COVID-19 (Asian Women for Health)
- Tips for Families Dealing with COVID-19 Anti-Asian Discrimination (Asian American Psychological Association)
- Free Children’s Book on Fighting Anti-Asian Racism During COVID-19 (Joyce Y Lee, Emily Ku, and Maggie Chen)
- Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents (William James College)
- Webinar Series: Let’s Talk! Supporting Asian and Asian American Students Through COVID-19 (MGH of Health Professionals)
- Parents Managing Anxiety During COVID-19 (Asian American Psychological Association)
- Guidance for Protecting AAPI Workers (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance)
- Poster to Support AAPI Workers (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance)
- COVID-19: Reducing the Stigma (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Responding to AAPI Hate
- How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism (Learning for Justice)
- Responding to Hate: Information and Resources (Anti-Defamation League)
- Speaking Up Against Racism Around the Coronavirus (Learning for Justice)
- Show Up: Your Guide to Bystander Intervention (Hollaback!)
- Report Hate Crimes (Stop AAPI Hate)
Talking to Children About Racism
- Talking to Children About Differences and Similarities (Office of Head Start)
- Talking To Kids About Xenophobia (National Geographic)
- Classroom Resources and Tips To Address Anti-Asian Discrimination (We Are Teachers)
- Racism and Violence: Using Your Power as a Parent to Support Children Aged Two to Five (Zero to Three)
- Coming Together: Talking to Children About Race and Identity (Sesame Street)
- The ABC’s of Racial Literacy (Sesame Street in Communities)
- Webinar: Helping Kids Process Violence, Trauma, and Race in a World of Non-Stop News (Common Sense)
- Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism (PBS Kids)
Understanding Bias
- Bias-Buster Micro-Credential (NHSA)
- Understanding Anti-Bias Education: Bringing the Four Core Goals to Every Facet of Your Curriculum (NAEYC)
- The Unconscious Bias: An Educator's Self-Assessment (First Book)
- Start with Equity: Data, Research and an Actionable Policy Agenda (Children's Equity Project, in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center)
Promoting Empathy
- Promoting Respect & Empathy: A Toolkit for Educators of All Grades (First Book)
- Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion (We Need Diverse Books)
- The Stories for All Project: Asian & Pacific Islander Characters & Cultures (First Book)
- Books with Asian and Asian American Characters (Common Sense)
- Asian/Asian American Children’s Books (Lee and Low Books)
- Who’s Missing? Asian and Pacific Islander American Biographies (We Need Diverse Books)
Practicing Trauma-Informed Care
- Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (Office of Head Start)
- Fostering Healing Through Trauma-Informed Practices (Office of Head Start)
- Trauma Toolkit for Educators (First Book)
- Equity in Early Childhood Education Collection (New America)
How Can We Support You?
We will continue to update these resources and invite you to share resources and let us know how we can better support your program’s needs.
