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ERIC Number: ED657416
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 167
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3828-2348-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Equitable Partnerships among Refugee Families and Early Childhood Educators
Ankita Bhattashali
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Kansas
Refugee children comprise half of the total world refugee population and face numerous complex challenges (UNHCR, 2021). The purpose of this study was to explore equitable family-professional partnerships between refugee families of children with disabilities or considered at-risk (i.e., who has/had been referred to special education evaluation or is/was receiving special education services) and early educators. Specifically, I aimed to understand the challenges faced by early educators and the supports needed to develop equitable partnerships with refugee families. Additionally, I examined how the intersectional identities of both early educators and refugee families of children with disabilities or considered at-risk impacted their partnerships. Nine early educators participated in this iterative qualitative study, completing a demographic form and engaging in two rounds of semi-structured interviews. Guided by the theoretical orientations of intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1991) and social constructivism, data analysis revealed that early educators encountered primary challenges such as language barriers, limited opportunities for interaction with families, and a lack of information about families' refugee status. Regarding the supports needed for developing equitable partnerships, most early educators expressed a desire for language and communication-related assistance and professional development in cultural competence. Finally, findings of this study highlighted how early educators' and refugee families' intersectional identities influenced their perceptions and consequently, the equitable nature of their relationships. Implications of this study underscored the importance of teacher preparation programs equipping early educators with a deeper understanding of diverse cultural practices, refugee status, and their impacts on children to foster equitable partnerships with refugee families. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A