Moving Forward

Like all components of this framework, acquiring and applying cultural knowledge is a process that never ends. If you are like me, you may find this both exciting (work is never boring and there is always something new and interesting to learn!) and daunting (It can be overwhelming to realize that unlike for Volkswagen mechanics, there isn’t a set amount of learning to do that you can just augment with a few hours of professional development once a year). Such exciting and daunting work can be intimidating, which is why my advice to you is to just do it. Start with a family that you may be struggling to relate to and make a plan to read, watch, and listen to content about their community and take some time this weekend to spend exploring their neighborhood. Once you begin applying what you’re learning, you will surely make mistakes and have missteps, which is precisely why the next component of the Updated Framework for Culturally Responsive Early Intervention is to reflect and evaluate.