Valuable Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Resources!

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OCFS is happy to announce the launch of our DEIA Toolkit! This toolkit provides child care programs with ideas on how to expand children's access and exposure to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Why is DEIA in child care important? DEIA fosters acceptance, confidence and empathy with all people.

The goal of this toolkit is for child care providers to enhance their programs using a DEIA lens and determine some areas of growth, both individually and within the program. The purpose of the toolkit is to empower the child care community by providing resources and information about how to incorporate DEIA into a program‘s mission, philosophy, programming, education, materials/supplies and activities. It may also help strengthen relationships between child care programs and the families they serve.

The objective is to help providers ensure that DEIA is intentionally woven into all aspects of their program, understand why DEIA is essential, define DEIA and best programming practices, and provide information on having open discussions with parents and guardians about DEIA.

Toolkit Documents

DEIA Child Care Self-Assessment

A self-assessment form for child care providers and caregivers to evaluate DEIA throughout the child care program and to develop goals to enhance DEIA in the program.

• Pub. 5533A - Assessing DEIA in Child Care

Best Programming Practices

A tip sheet on best programming practices to ensure that DEIA is naturally woven into the child care program.

• Pub. 5533 - Best Programming Practices

Best Programming Practices for Directors, Owners, and Other Early Childhood Education (ECE) Leaders

• Pub. 5533I - Best Programming Practices for Directors, Owners, and Other Early Childhood Education (ECE) Leaders

All About My Child

A form that child care programs can ask parents/guardians to complete to provide detailed background information about the enrolled child/children.

• Pub. 5533H - About My Child

Materials List and Ideas for Recommended Learning Areas for Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers and School-age Children

Lists of materials and ideas for the child care program to support DEIA in each age group.

• Pub. 5533B - Adding DEIA Ideas to Your Infant Environment
• Pub. 5533C - Adding DEIA Ideas to Your Toddler Environment
• Pub. 5533D - Adding DEIA Ideas to Your Preschool Environment
• Pub. 5533E - Ideas for Your School-Aged Environment
• Pub. 5533G - Adding DEIA Ideas to Your Staff Resources and Supply Closet

DEIA Books for Children

Lists of a variety of books to enhance DEIA using children‘s literature.

• Pub. 5533F - DEIA Books

Celebrate Diversity Flyer

A printable color flyer with suggestions on ways to celebrate diversity in child care programs.

• Pub. 5535 - Ways to Celebrate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Child Care Setting

Additional Resources:

Please review this list of additional resources to learn more about why DEIA is crucial in child care and to locate agencies to assist you in supporting your program‘s DEIA journey.

• New York State OCFS Division of Child Care Services
• Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC)
• Local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs)
• Alanis, I., & I.U. Iruka, eds. with S. Friedman. 2021. Advancing Equity and Embracing Diversity in Early Childhood Education: Elevating Voices and Actions. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
• Child Care Technical Assistance Network
• Self-work/assessments:
  
  • Intercultural Development Inventory
  • Kirwan Institute
  • NYS Early Care and Learning Council
  • Embrace Race
  • Harvard Implicit Bias test
  • Casey Self-Assessment
• New York State Education Department DEI Initiative
• Hands & Voices/FL3 Center CIRCLE of Change™
• New York State Network for Youth Success‘ Statement of Commitment
• 40+ free online resources to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at home and school
• Edutopia – Preparing Staff for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
• Infant/Toddler Resource Guide | Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System (hhs.gov)
• Foundations of Inclusion Birth to Five - Connect Modules (dec-sped.org)
• Tips for Teaching Children in Child Care about Diversity – Extension Alliance for Better Child Care
• DEI in Child Care Hub - Child Care Aware® of America
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Committee for Children (cfchildren.org)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children – Diversity Resources
• National Black Child Development Institute | NBCDI
• Cultural Awareness for Kids | Parenting Tips &… | PBS KIDS for Parents
• Society for Research in Child Development Diversity and Inclusion | Society for Research in Child Development SRCD