Welcoming Families from Around the World

I chose to feature a family from Senegal. We have had a family from this area in our center before I became an administrator. I was a teacher in another room, so I did not have that many experiences with this child. However, there are several families from this country in our area. As the administrator for my center, I am now be at the forefront of welcoming families from this country and many others as they enter our program.
                                  
My first order of business is to be welcoming. I would be just as warm and welcoming as I would with any other family. We try our best to create a comfortable environment for all families with a friendly greeting and positive atmosphere.

As part of our enrollment an registration process, we are sure to ask of every family if there are any dietary restrictions for either allergies or religious purposes. Research shows that 92% of Senegal is Muslim and as such do not eat pork. We work with our local school system to have nutritious meals brought into the center. They are easily able to make substitutions for students with dietary needs such as these. I would assure the family that not only would a proper protein substitution be made but that it would be done so discreetly.

We also ask for proper proof of age documentation. The issues we encounter with birth certificates from other countries are twofold. First, we may not be able to read them although dates are usually easy to decipher. Second, the birth certificate may not exist at all. However, we are able to work around these issues with other forms of proof of age such as immunization records or immunization waivers.

Immunization waivers are also fairy common but not always something that is guaranteed. In the event that the family has a waiver, they would be assured that their child would still be safe. However, I would be sure to ask if there are any health concerns that I need to be aware of. In the past, the parents of a child with a waiver wish to be notified if certain communicable diseases enter the facility.

During the registration process, we spend a great deal of time with the family. I would be sure to ask questions about holiday observances, dietary needs, and religious holiday absences. In our past experiences, the family we had did not oppose our slight nods to the holidays of the dominant culture.

                                        

Another area that may need consideration is the area of language. The primary language of Senegal is French. The family we had many years ago spoke English fluently and did not need a translator. However, that may not be the case with all families from Senegal. There may be a need for a translator which can be provided for free by our local school system.

Being fully prepared for a family from Senegal or any other country is important. This shows respect for that family and all other families that enter the program. Any information gleaned from research or conversations with the family would be shared with teaching staff to enable them to provide the best care possible. Food service staff would need to be made fully aware of the child's dietary needs well before hand to ensure that the appropriate foods are on hand for the child.