Supporting Educators to Welcome Newcomer Families

Building Educator Capacity

Since the beginning of 2024, the Federation has hosted six webinar trainings and a comprehensive 10-hour series on "Welcoming Newcomer Families" for Massachusetts school district educators and partners. 

These sessions are designed to equip educators with the knowledge and tools they need to support newcomer families effectively. Through a Community of Practice established in January 2024 and ended in May 2024, FCSN gathered valuable feedback on existing resources and best practices. This input shaped the content of our webinars, ensuring we provide the frameworks, tools, and discussions most requested by this community of educators. Topics covered include cultural sustainability, effective communication strategies, and understanding the unique challenges faced by these families.

The response to these training sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, with educators expressing deep appreciation for the practical insights and resources provided. These webinars are available as a resource for a more inclusive and supportive educational environment across the state–drawing on a network of passionate professionals dedicated to this important work. 

This work continues this fall, including webinars, Community of Practice meetings, office hours and more. Our goal is to unify efforts, foster discussion and create Massachusetts-focused resources for current and future newcomer families.

Beyond providing static resources, the Newcomers Resource Hub serves as a dynamic discussion board. This allows users to share insights, discuss ongoing issues, comment on experiences, and ask questions. This interactive platform fosters collaboration and connection among professionals, creating a vibrant community dedicated to supporting newcomer families. The ability to engage in discussions and seek peer advice enhances the effectiveness of the resources and strengthens the network of support, making the hub a critical tool for addressing the evolving needs of newcomer families. 

We had the honor of presenting the Newcomers Resource Hub at the DESE Office of Language Acquisition Network Celebration, "Living the Educational Vision: Celebrating Student Voice and Linguistic Diversity” on June 13.

A Warm Welcome to All Families 

At FCSN, we believe every family deserves to feel welcomed and supported in their preferred language and with consideration for their cultural background. We are dedicated to expanding our resources and strengthening connections with newcomer families and the professionals who support them. 

Our special education Parent Information & Training center, Caregiver to Caregiver Respite Network, Family TIES, Family Voices, and Transition Program are staffed by multilingual specialists. Our team can communicate in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cape Verdean, Khmer, and Russian. Through interpreters, we can reach families in 250 additional languages. 

For more information on our initiatives and to access the Newcomers Resource Hub, please visit Welcoming Newcomers site or contact me directly at ateng@fscn.org. 

To our newcomer families: you belong here at FCSN, and we are here to support you every step of the way.