Dr. Connie Nguyen-Truong’s and Micronesian Islander Community Organization’s Innovative Research on Early Learning and Development
Dr. Connie Nguyen-Truong, the Principal Investigator (PI) at the Washington State University (WSU) College of Nursing in Vancouver, WA, in the Nursing and Systems Science Department, is leading with the community PI – Executive Director and collaborating with the Micronesian Community Health Worker Researchers of the Micronesian Islander Community (MIC) organization on a transformative community-engaged research (CEnR) program. This intervention research is funded by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) – Early Childhood Equity Fund Grant and addresses early childhood inequity such as adverse childhood experiences and also includes reaching families caring for children ages 0-5 including children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Focused on Micronesian and Pacific Islander families, including Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens, are a rapidly growing community in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Dr. Nguyen-Truong’s CEnR with the MIC organization, engages with nursing student(s) through mentored experiences and more recently with the collaboration of WSU Vancouver Human Development/Prevention Science in College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). The parent/caregiver educational leadership and education curriculum pilot study adapts Ready for Kindergarten! curriculum. The goal is to develop parenting/caregiving educational leadership and increase parent-child interaction on early learning and development. This uplifts families, especially those with children aged 0-5 years old, with diverse identities, immigration statuses, and cultural backgrounds.
The CEnR aims to enroll about 25 families, offering workshops tailored to different age groups. Families will receive engaging curriculum content, learning kits, and culturally relevant resources, including books in their languages. Dr. Nguyen-Truong and her team are encouraging open discussions, incorporating storytelling, writing, drawing, and reflections to capture valuable insights about parenting education.
The goals of the CEnR include:
- Understanding Experiences
- Discover Micronesian and Pacific Islander parents’ thoughts and experiences with the Ready for Kindergarten! Curriculum.
- Evaluating Feasibility
- Assess the feasibility and acceptance of the curriculum as a parenting education intervention.
- Measuring Impact
- Explore the preliminary impact of the parenting education intervention on parenting, early learning, and kindergarten readiness.
Participants will share their thoughts through pre and post-surveys, attend three 1.5-hour workshop sessions per curriculum, and engage in group discussions with the research team. Most interactions will either be virtual, using platforms like Zoom, or in-person sessions.
The outcomes of the study will provide valuable insights into effective strategies and challenges, guiding the scaling of the Ready for Kindergarten! Curriculum and to build upon within Micronesian and Pacific Islander communities. Dr. Connie Nguyen-Truong’s and MIC’s research offers a trajectory in fostering positive parenting/caregiving and strengthening interactions between parents/caregivers and their children.
