| Children served by Early Head Start (EHS) face multiple, complex risks that affect their development of self-regulation and communicative competence. The number and complexity of risks present unique challenges to EHS staff as they provide education and support for families.; The primary purpose of this study was to investigate how adults read and respond to children's engagement and disengagement cues and how the culture of families from high-risk environments and the culture of EHS influence provision of education and intervention services. Qualitative research methodology was employed to investigate organizational and family culture frameworks as well as interaction patterns of adult communication with adults and adult communication with children. Ethnographic methods included interviews with staff and families, observation of caregiver play with children, and review of program artifacts.; Interviews were analyzed to determine cultural themes and patterns of values, beliefs, and behaviors. Videotapes of adult-child play sessions were coded to describe types of play engaged in, language use, reading behaviors, and emotional expression. Data were then analyzed further to uncover how staff and family members' unique frames of reference influenced interactions with one another and with the children.; Results of this study indicate that EHS caregivers struggled with providing age-appropriate stimulation and experiences for children and that family educators (FEs) often found it difficult to address caregivers' needs and simultaneously model responsiveness to children's cues. Although administrators (ADs) and FEs advocate a family-centered, strengths-based approach and see a need to develop self-regulation in families, situations requiring crisis management often reduced the amount of time available for modeling skills and enhancing child development. In addition, differences in frameworks of interaction resulted in misunderstanding or miscommunication about goals and objectives for EHS staff, families, and partner agencies. |
