DEI Resources: Supporting AIAN Communities

Head Start believes that every child deserves success. Racial bias, injustice and racism have no place in Head Start. American Indian & Alaska Native (AIAN) families and communities deserve to feel heard and celebrated.

Respecting and Embracing Native American Heritages, Languages, and Cultures

• Culturally Grounded Approaches to Support Children and Families in American Indian and Alaska Native Early Care and Education (Zero to Three)
• Strengthening Home Visiting and Early Childhood Program Implementation through Cultural Grounding and Responsiveness (Zero to Three)
• American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (Office of Head Start)
• Native American Heritage Collection (PBS)
• Native American Heritage Month website (Library of Congress)

Supporting AIAN Community During COVID-19

• Supporting American Indian & Alaska Native Communities Combating COVID-19 (eHealth Initiative)
• NIEA Survey on Impact of COVID-19 in Native Schools (National Indian Education Association)
• Understanding COVID-19 Vaccines (John Hopkins Center for American Indian Health)
• The Administration for Children and Families Native American COVID-19 Resources (The Administration for Children and Families)

Talking to Children About Racism

• Talking to Children About Differences and Similarities (Office of Head Start)
• Talking To Kids About Xenophobia (National Geographic)
• Racism and Violence: Using Your Power as a Parent to Support Children Aged Two to Five (Zero to Three)
• "Sesame Street" for Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism (Sesame Street)
• 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 Basics and Bias Buster Essentials (NHSA)
• 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

• Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion (We Need Diverse Books)
• American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Booklist (Colorín Colorado)

Practicing Trauma-Informed Care

• Fostering Healing Through Trauma-Informed Practices (Office of Head Start)
• Trauma Toolkit for Educators (First Book)
• Equity in Early Childhood Education Collection (New America)