Introduction
Core concepts are essential for creating a shared language because they provide a common foundation for understanding and discussing complex and emotionally charged topics. When people come from different backgrounds, roles, or experiences, having clearly defined core concepts ensures everyone is aligned in meaning and intent. This shared understanding reduces confusion, builds trust, and allows for more honest, respectful, and productive conversations—especially when addressing sensitive issues like trauma, equity, or systemic injustice. Core concepts help hold space for both emotional complexity and collective problem-solving.
Critical Self-Reflection
Critical self-reflection is the process of questioning our own perspectives, beliefs, and values. It differs from other types of reflection and involves identifying the assumptions shaping our actions, locating their historical and cultural roots, questioning their meaning, taking responsibility for their impact (e.g., through our words and actions) on others, and developing alternative ways of being and acting to repair ruptured relationships and prevent future ruptures (Noroña & Raskin, 2020). Engaging in critical self-reflection requires us to challenge predominant social, cultural, economic, political, and professional ways of beliefs, values, and ways of being and acting (Stein, 2000). Every person’s capacity for critical self-reflection is plastic and its development demands intentionality, time, space, and practice.
Garcia, Kosutic, McDowell, & Anderson, 2009; Hernández & McDowell, 2003;
Stein, 2000; Thomas, Noroña & St. John 2019; Noroña & Raskin, 2019
Decolonization
Decolonization is “the intelligent, calculated, and active resistance to the forces of colonialism that perpetuate the subjugation and/or exploitation of our minds, bodies, and land” that “is engaged for the ultimate purpose of overturning the colonial structure and realizing Indigenous liberation” (Gray, Coates, & Yellowbird, 2008, p. 2).
Diversity-Informed Practice
Diversity-informed practice is a dynamic system of beliefs and values that shapes interactions between individuals, organizations and systems of care. Diversity-informed practice recognizes the historic and contemporary salience of racism, classism, sexism, able-ism, homophobia, xenophobia, and other systems of oppression and strives for the highest possible standard of inclusivity in all spheres of practice: teaching and training, research and writing, policy and advocacy, as well as direct service.
Diversity-Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families Initiative, 2020
Equity
Equity refers to the value-based concept that seeks to ensure that all people have access to the biological, economic, political, and social resources needed to optimally develop and achieve wellbeing. A central premise of equity is the acknowledgement that all people begin their developmental journey with differing levels of resources related to and/or determined by social positioning factors such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, ability, sexuality, and nationality. Realizing equity will require unequal distribution of resources based on the needs of each individual.
Diversity-Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families Initiative, 2020
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
“Infant mental health is defined as the developing capacity of the infant and young child to experience, express, and regulate emotions; form close and secure relationships; and explore the environment and learn, all in the context of cultural expectations (ZERO TO THREE Infant Mental Health Task Force, 2001). A major premise of infant mental health is that babies’ emotional, social and cognitive development and competencies unfold in the context of …relationships; thus supporting both the infant and the…caregiver is crucial to optimize the young child’s functioning” (Osofsky & Liberman, 2011, p. 120).
Diversity-Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families Initiative
Relational Safety in Context
Relational safety in context requires the co-construction of a supportive, vulnerable space for mutual challenge and collaboration. It is a space to openly raise questions, challenge perspectives, confront opinions, express ideas, feelings, and concerns related to social and racial justice. These are spaces that offer unconditional positive regard, respect, empathy, and compassion while promoting critical thinking, not blind validation. Relational safety is “a way of being.”
Anderson, Fernández-Pastrana, Noroña, 2020;
Hernandez & Rankin, 2008; Hernandez & McDowell, 2010
Systems of Oppression
“Oppressive systems can be thought of as the structures within the greater society that allow inequities to continue. These systems allow the perpetuation of policies and practices that disadvantage marginalized groups.”