Creative Community and Academic Collaboration Approach in the Development of the Micronesian Early Education Toolkit for Easing Access into Early Childhood Learning Through an Experiential Process of Improvement

Abstract

Introduction The Micronesian and Pacific Islander community experiences adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at rates higher than other ethnic groups. Exposure to ACEs increases the risk of negative outcomes, including heart disease, cancer, and psychosocial problems into adulthood. Early childhood learning (ECL) provides resilience against ACEs. However, Micronesian and Pacific Islander children reportedly have 53.8% not enrolled in ECL. Approach The purpose is to describe a creative community and academic collaboration approach, including culturally responsive partnership building exercises with inspirational reflections as a communication process between partners in the Micronesian Islander Community non-profit organization and Washington State University College of Nursing that led to the development of a culturally responsive, web-based, Micronesian Early Education Toolkit with Micronesian Islander Parent Leader Champions. We engaged a local school district to participate. Tenets of Popular Education guided partnership building. The Early Childhood Education Access Framework guided toolkit development and experiential improvement process. The toolkit includes both text and videos on what is ECL and importance, ECL program types, and navigation of the application process. We used a Plus/Delta evaluation. Findings Nine Parent Leader Champions representing Chamarro, Chuukese, Kapingamarangi, Marshallese, and Pohnpeian communities reported that the toolkit respects cultural values; easy to comprehend and navigate; the process makes it feasible to help enroll Micronesian Islander preschool students; and will be helpful at expanding access to ECL programs. Discussion The toolkit development and experiential improvement process centered the voice of Micronesian Islander Parent Leader Champions. This helped the toolkit to be interactive, clear with specific utility for diverse English-speaking levels, respectful language, and creativity on how families can start. Conclusion This creative community and academic collaboration approach, including Micronesian Islander Parent Leader Champions and engaging a local school district achieved development of a culturally responsive ECL toolkit that was a helpful foundation to begin ECL enrollment.