About the Authors
María Hernández, MA, is a consultant at ParentChild + and an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies at Lehman College, CUNY.
You Zhou, PhD, is associate director of research and learning at ParentChild +, where she leads research and quality improvement in early childhood settings. psyyouzhou @ gmail. com
Sandra Saldaña, MS, is a senior data analyst at the Institute for Community Living.
César Zuñiga, MA, is a developmental psychologist and strategic consultant to NYU Langone Health’ s Together Growing Strong initiative in Brooklyn, New York. czuniga. x @ gmail. com
FURTHER READINGS
NAEYC Accreditation
This article supports the following NAEYC Early Learning Programs standards and topics.
Standard 2: Families and Community
Engaging in Reciprocal Partnerships with Families and Fostering Community Connections
Standard 8: Professionalism
Demonstrating Professionalism as Early Childhood Educators
Photographs: p. 34, © Getty Images; pp. 35, 37-39, courtesy of César Zuñiga. Copyright © 2026 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See permissions and reprints online at NAEYC. org / resources / permissions.
Fall 2026 Educating Young Children 41