As you learn about potential team members, it is important to learn about how those resources are viewed by families you serve. What may be a wonderful resource for one family may not be a good fit for another. Families may receive advice that is not in line with their cultural, religious, or family beliefs and practices. Resources may be perceived as discriminating against certain communities now or in the past and thus are not trusted sources of support. Resources may not address the language access needs of families with limited English proficiency or effectively serve families with low or no literacy or disabilities. Word of mouth about services and resources in the community often relays such experiences.
Learn about the experiences of families with any given resource, particularly families from diverse racial, ethnic or linguistic communities or those with disabilities.
You can learn from families who have used the services in the past and from community representatives and leaders. It is also a good idea to speak with any program or provider to learn their perspectives on how they address these issues and what populations they feel they serve effectively. Ask about policies they have in place to address them and to assure language access for families with limited English proficiency and access for parents with disabilities.
