Back to school advocacy

EMBARC’s Early Childhood Parent Navigator Program has a long history of providing education, but you might not be as familiar with the advocacy they do for parents every year when it’s finally time for the youngest to head off for school. Imagine a 3 or 4 year old growing up in a home where mom and dad have only spoken in Burmese ethnic languages, mom is a stay-at-home caregiver so constantly around, and on top of it all mom and dad have no formal education - especially not the western kind. How terrified is that child? How do mom and dad ask questions, or even know what questions to ask?

But then they see a familiar face, an EMBARC Navigator there to support them. Navigators at EMBARC help parents prepare for the first day of school by being a language support, encouraging them to ask questions, helping them understand what the process may look like and sometimes even walking that scared 3 or 4 four year old into the room so that they have someone who speaks their language supporting them. EMBARC gives parents a voice. Navigators advocate for them and help them learn in turn to advocate for their own families and needs.

One mom heard the bus would pick up her child - a great relief since she has no car nor knows how to drive. The start of school got closer and closer and she started to get worried when she did not receive any additional information. Finally, she found a friend who could drive her and her child to school on the first day. She arrived confused and anxious. Right away, she found an EMBARC Navigator who she could explain the concern to. Together, they went to the office where an administrator was able to see that the proper paperwork had not been filled out. The issue was soon resolved and the child furthermore registered for a bus ride. The mom left, a burden removed and better aware of the systems she would need to use in the future - small advocacy with big impacts on everyday families lives.