What Works Brief: Equity in Coaching

In February, our Research & Evaluation department released its second brief in the What Works series, examining outcomes across race and class identities. The key take away is: 

Mobility Mentoring appears to work equally well across race and ethnicity.

Wellbeing Blog

Self-care is a unique journey. What works for one participant in our programs might not work for another. Some families struggle to engage in these conversations when it feels too personal. Or they don’t share the same cultural understanding of what self-care means and whether it’s important for them.  

In having conversations around self-care and wellbeing, as mentors, we need to keep in mind that self-care is not a concept in some cultures. In one conversation, I asked a participant what they did to practice self-care. They asked me what self-care was. 

Often part of self-care involves seeking mental health care. But keep in mind participants' cultures, viewpoints, & any potential stigmas they face in seeking mental health care. 

Remember to ask if participants want to write self-care goals for their children while they work on their own. It also helps to remind participants in this conversation that they are their children’s best teachers. By practicing self-care, their children will learn and copy what they are doing. 

Here are some examples of goals participants can set for their children:

• communicating in a respectful way even if you are upset;

• limit screen time; exercise as a family, such as dancing in the house or going for a walk to the park;

• drinking water instead of juice. 

External Readings & Resources

Growth Mindset & Continuous Improvement

On this episode, global keynote speaker, facilitator, and guide supporting leaders developing growth mindset cultures, Eduardo Briceño, discusses how mindsets work, why stress is a trigger for a fixed mindset and ways to promote a growth mindset and continuous improvement in ourselves, our children, and our colleagues. Well-cultivated growth mindsets, particularly in the area of challenge, is a mark of strong executive function crucial for personal growth, performance, and resilience.

Early Childhood and Economic Mobility 

Evidence is clear that beginning in utero, children are constantly learning. Research shows enrollment in early childhood education programs before kindergarten increases school readiness and ensures children are on track with their peers. Quality early childhood education sets young children up for successful entry into school and careers. Children without a strong early educational foundation are more likely to drop out of school and less likely to attain a postsecondary education, which lowers the chances of experiencing upward economic mobility. 

Economic Mobility Toolkit for Early Care and Education

Child Care Technical Assistance Network offers a toolkit for providers supporting families towards economic mobility. This Toolkit is aligned with the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework for Early Childhood Systems. 

The Economics of Early Childhood Investments 

Early childhood, beginning in infancy, is a period of profound advances in reasoning, language acquisition, and problem solving, and importantly, a child’s environment can dramatically influence the degree and pace of these advances. By supporting development when children are very young, early childhood development and education programs can complement parental investments and produce large benefits to children, parents, and society. 

Aspen Institute's 2Gen toolbox 

This is a great resource for staff and organizations utilizing a 2Gen approach in their work.