Deborah Ross, PhD

Your voice is your vote!

One of the most heartbreaking things s***king teaches a child is that the people who love them are also the people who hurt them.

Children are wired to seek safety, comfort, and connection from their caregivers. When physical punishment is used, it can create a confusing message in a child’s developing brain:

💔 The person I run to for comfort is also the person causing pain.
💔 Love and hurt can exist together.
💔 Being bigger and stronger gives someone the right to use force.
💔 Fear is part of close relationships.

Most parents who s***k are not trying to harm their children; they’re often doing what was done to them or what they were taught was effective. But good intentions do not always mean a strategy is helping children learn the lessons we hope it will.

Children learn best when they feel safe, connected, and understood. Research consistently shows that fear may create short term compliance, but connection is what supports long term emotional regulation, trust, empathy, and healthy decision making.

🫶🏼 We can teach respect without fear.
🫶🏼 We can teach boundaries without pain.
🫶🏼 We can teach responsibility without physical punishment.

Every generation has the opportunity to question old beliefs and choose a different path. Healing often begins with one person willing to do things differently, and that person is you! ❤️

Our friends at the National Institute for Early Education Research did a great job looking at the data and making the case for better wages for Head Start staff.

https://nieer.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/the_real_cost_of_rolling_back_head_start_wage_requirements.pdf

Secure Your Entry Together, we can do this. ❤️

Head Start parents, this is your opportunity to make your voice heard!

Right now, parents have a chance to speak directly to federal leaders by signing onto a Head Start parent letter responding to a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).

Head Start families know firsthand the difference Head Start makes for children, families, and communities. If Head Start has impacted your family’s life, now is the time to share your voice.

Sign the Parent Letter today at https://hubs.la/Q04k8N7L0

It only takes a minute. Together, our voices are powerful.

In the rapidly evolving human services sector, staying informed is crucial. Subscribe to our newsletter for timely updates on Head Start initiatives, policy changes, and best practices. Equip yourself with the knowledge to make a difference. https://conta.cc/3S5luz7

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