Community Education Worker (CEW) Program

The Community Education Worker (CEW) Program strives to decrease inequities in early childhood education and increase the success of children from infancy to school and beyond through empowerment of low-income families of color, immigrants and refugees.  Through the CEW Program we support families by providing culturally–centered and linguistically accessible services, relationship-building and advocacy, support navigation and  engagement with schools, healthcare systems, governmental agencies and other decision-making bodies.

The CEW program works in five broadly defined cultural groups

African-American, Latinx, Native American/Alaskan Native, Somali, and Myanmar refugee communities. CEWs have all completed the foundational CHW training and are employed by culturally specific community based organizations. The CEWs work with families with children ages prenatal through age six. The program addresses the social and structural determinants of educational equity and health that impede the ability of families in marginalized communities to support their child(ren)’s learning and cultivate kindergarten readiness.

CEWs are Cultural Liaisons

Another aim of the program is to increase parents' understanding of the educational system so that they are empowered to advocate for the needs of their children.  CEWs are cultural liaisons between the families they serve and the school systems, working with these systems in preparation to better equip them to meet the needs of the families.