Active listening is an important skill for all Head Start and Early Head Start staff. Watch this video to learn more about how listening, body language, and eye contact can help encourage families to share their stories.

Storytelling can be a highly emotional process, especially when families have faced traumatic events, are dealing with ongoing issues, or face problems that staff don’t feel equipped to handle. In this video, program staff reflect on the importance of communication, self-care, and having a network of support is for working effectively working with families.

Learn about the dreams and experiences of families who migrate to the United States to create a better life for their children.

Confidentiality is critical for developing strong and trusting relationships, especially for migrant families. It is important for migrant families to understand that personal information will be kept confidential. When families trust staff and share openly, staff can better help families access needed support and services.

Asking the right questions and listening carefully and respectfully are equally important in the process of learning about families’ personal stories. Being objective while a family shares their history helps them open their hearts and share their strengths, interests, and needs.

Storytelling helps build strong relationships and supports effective family partnership agreements. Learning about families’ past experiences, strengths, and needs in an authentic way can help staff support meaningful progress for children, families, and communities.

Listen and empathize with families about the hardships they have endured. Watch this video to see how staff can connect with and support families, even when there may not be ready solutions to address their challenges.

The process of storytelling can help programs truly empower families. Hear from program staff about how storytelling has changed their Head Start/Early Head Start program for the better. Staff share how they hope this series of videos will help strengthen the work that providers do with migrant families.

Watch a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program staff member interview families about their personal experiences as migrant workers in the U.S. These interactions help program staff understand the authentic needs and goals of families. In this way, storytelling can build partnerships based in trust, honor, and respect.

When families share their stories, staff can better understand and identify resources to help families achieve those goals. In some cases, storytelling can help families recognize their accomplishments, resources, skills, and abilities.