Multilingual support

What is the role of Early Learning Cultural Liaisons?

• Provide support to multilingual learners and/or multicultural students and families in the Anoka-Hennepin Schools Early Learning programs.
• Support families as they navigate the educational system.
• Encouraging and empowering early childhood multilingual learners and/or multicultural families to become active participants in the educational activities and programs of their children.

What are the benefits of collaborating with an Early Learning Cultural Liaison?

• Serve as a bridge between family, school, and community.
• Ensure successful education for all early childhood multilingual learners and/or multicultural families participating in Anoka-Hennepin Schools Early Learning programs.
• Provide a connection with diverse families.
• Culturally aware and sensitive

What services do Early Learning Cultural Liaisons provide?

Family support

• Assist with the enrollment of new families in Anoka-Hennepin Schools Early Learning programs (Preschool / ECFE).
• Assist Early Learning staff in orienting new multilingual learners and/or multicultural students and families to Preschool and ECFE program
• Promote community and school engagement: Educate parents/guardians about the importance of school engagement; Collect and share information about events; Attend events; Encourage attendance at conferences; Develop relationships between school and community resources
• Provide access to resources: Community resources (food, clothing, housing, dental, medical, child care, etc.); School resources (free & reduced lunch forms, school social workers, immunizations, etc.
• Conduct home/site visits to provide or collect information.
• Support multilingual learners and/or multicultural families, as needed, during: Parent/teacher conferences, registration, Early Childhood Screening, EP/IFSP meetings

Staff, Program, and School Support

• Participate in school meetings and/or conferences as needed.
• Develop preventative plans to reduce barriers to student success.
• Provide resources for teachers (community and culture-specific).
• Act as liaison between the school staff and culturally diverse families.
• Assist with conflict resolution.
• Translate written material, as necessary and deemed appropriate (no legal documents).
• Provide casual language interpretation between school staff, students, and families as needed.
• Assist with programs to promote a better understanding of cultural and ethnic groups within the community.