Cross-Cultural Understanding and Cultural Humility: Training for Early Childhood Researchers Working with AIAN Communities

The “Cross-Cultural Understanding and Cultural Humility: Training for Early Childhood Researchers Working with American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Communities” training was designed to ensure that research study staff are rigorously trained on how to work respectfully with Tribal programs and communities.

These training materials give qualified facilitators the information and materials they need to lead the training. Training materials describe the background, guiding principles, and skills that early care and education research staff need to work respectfully with AIAN communities as partners in ethical research.

Training participants will learn to recognize and be more ready to overcome the barriers and biases that can interfere with authentic and meaningful research partnerships with AIAN community members. Completion of the training does not demonstrate official certification or mastery as an AIAN cultural expert. It is recommended that the training be delivered in full and follow the sequence outlined in the facilitator materials.

• The Facilitator Companion Guide will prepare facilitators to lead the training. The guide includes training goals, an overview of key terms and concepts, facilitation techniques, guidance on in-person versus virtual training formats, tips for background preparation, summaries of training module content, and pacing recommendations. The guide appendices include training handouts.
• The Facilitator Slide and Activity Notes will support facilitators’ delivery of the training. The resource provides detailed guidance for presenting the material in each training slide and activity. Each training slide includes information to support facilitation, including a slide screen capture, facilitator talking points, facilitator notes, pacing estimates, source references, and objectives and instructions for group activities.
• The Facilitator Training Slides include all slides in the four training modules and are in PowerPoint format for presentation needs. Users are discouraged from making changes to the slides or adapting content.