Duluth-Proctor-Hermantown Thrive increases the quality of early care and education through Reflective Practice

The staff at child care centers and early childhood programs face a challenging task. They spend long hours caring for young children who have different backgrounds, needs, and abilities. When emotional or behavioral problems arise, the staff is expected to handle each situation with patience and wisdom, week in and week out. But, who supports and encourages these caregivers in their task? What do they do when their “tank is on empty”?

Reflective practice offers one solution. Rooted in research findings, reflective practice creates a more intentionally supportive workplace for early childhood care and education professionals. When child care and education providers are given a venue to reflect upon and discuss their work, they become better equipped to provide a more consistent, nurturing environment for the young children in their care.

With grants from the Miller-Dwan Foundation, Mardag Foundation, and the Sheltering Arms Foundation, along with other partners, the Duluth-Proctor-Hermantown Thrive Action Team launched a reflective practice pilot project in June 2008. Eight local early care and education sites are participating: three child care centers, two Head Start classrooms, an Early Childhood Special Education classroom, an Early Childhood Family Education program, and a Teen Parent program. All together, 60 early childhood professionals serving nearly 600 young children and their families are involved.

“This project has helped our teachers develop deeper and more respectful relationships with one another, which in turn greatly benefit the children in their care.”
~Marilyn Larson, Supervisor of Early Childhood Programs, Duluth Public Schools

Reflective practice is a multi-layered system of support and information sharing. Early care and education staff meet regularly with their site supervisor to discuss work and gain fresh insights. Site supervisors consult with a licensed psychologist – in this case, Marlys Johnson, a local mental health consultant. The psychologist works with a credentialed consultant from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Early Childhood Development.

Everyone involved, from site supervisors to parents, are able to be on the same page regarding children’s healthy social and emotional development.

Nearly 18 months into this two-year project, the eight sites report that reflective practice is enhancing program quality and strengthening relationships with families. Among the outcomes noted are noticeable improvements in children with a history of behavior problems, staff members responding more mindfully to the children on a daily basis, and sites successfully retaining valued staff members.

“A tremendous group effort has gone into developing reflective practice in our community to improve, for the long term, how we help our youngest citizens become happy, healthy, productive adults,” said Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation’s Vice President and KIDS PLUS Director.

“The Northland Foundation, Thrive Action Team, and staff at the eight sites are hopeful that funding can be found to continue this important, innovative work,” added Ms. Haglin.

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Funding partners providing support for the Minnesota Thrive Initiative locally and statewide include the Bush Foundation, The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, The Sheltering Arms Foundation, the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Foundation for Children – a supporting organization of the Minneapolis Foundation, the Mardag Foundation, the Medica Foundation, and the Miller-Dwan Foundation.