Time Well Spent

This has been an exciting journey in pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education. I learned a great deal about the field. First, I learned that educators must communicate with colleagues and accept criticism in order to improve the profession. Second, researching micro aggressions and looking at my biases helped me understand the population I am teaching. Lastly, writing an application paper each week has helped me to understand the importance of early childhood education. My long term goal is to continue learning all I can about early childhood education.

Good luck to every one and wish you all the best.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The three international organizations that appealed to me were Children International
(www.children.org), Heifer International (www. Heifer.org), and Unicef (www.unicef.org).

I chose these organizations because there main goal is helping families and children. For example, children international has provided assistance to children and families living in poverty for over 75 years. The mission of the organization is to bring aid to those families. Moreover, there partnership with many foundations has help to invest in providing necessary aid such as health resources and educational supplies. Heifer International is one of my favorite organizations because it focuses on ending hunger. The organization works in over 30 countries all over the world. “Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty.” The final organization is UNICEF. The organization was created by the United Nation in 1946 after World War II. The sole purpose was to aid children and families suffering from famine and diseases. This is one of the most respected international organizations known around the world. They provide food, clothing and health care for countless families.

Currently there are 3 jobs available with Children’s International. The jobs available are listed below:

1.    Business Analyst

2.    Online Communications Writer

3.    Sponsor Services Representative.

Currently there are several consultant jobs available with UNICEF. Jobs available are listed below:

1.    Consultancy assignment: To document in writing and in video the Break the Silence (BTS) End Child Sexual Abuse process in the Caribbean

2.    Consultancy assignment: Production of the Thematic Report on Basic Education and Gender Equality

3.    Consultancy assignment: Multilingual Education Project Consultant, UNICEF CO, Bishkek city

There is varying degree of skills requirement for these for jobs. Some requires experience in programming, creating software, most are asking for master’s degree. I have no interest in any of these jobs, but if you are interested please the URL provided.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

These are the three national organizations of interest to me:

National Association for Family Child Care

Promote professional accreditation program which recognizes and encourages quality care for children.

Represent family child care providers by advocating for their needs and collaborating with other organizations.

Advocate the diversity of the family child care profession through training, state and local associations, public education, and Board Membership.

Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children

“The Division for Early Childhood promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities”( The Division for Early Childhood, nd).

National Institute for Early Education Research  

“The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) conducts and communicates research to support high-quality, effective early childhood education for all young children. Such education enhances their physical, cognitive, and social development, and subsequent success in school and later life” (National Institute for Early Education Research, 2014).

 Currently the only job available is with the National Institute for Early Education Research   as a data collector.

All these organizations require a college degree. The most important aspect of the job is to have a wealth of knowledge pertaining to child development.  In almost any job the best experience is when you start working.  

http://www.naecte.org/

http://www.nieer.org/about/jobs

http://www.dec-sped.org/About_DEC

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The local and state organizations of interest that appeals to me are The New Jersey Parent and Information Resource Center (NJPIRC), Early Intervention System (NJEIS), and Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Inc. I chose them because there focus is on helping parents and children. 

For example, The New Jersey Parent and Information Resource Center (NJPIRC) focuses on “strengthen parenting skills & parental understanding of how to support education in the home by increasing the availability of parent training, information, & support programs in NJ, particularly in the Abbott or other high needs districts.” The statewide advocacy network creates relationships between families who are going through the same challenges. They match families with similar experiences. Early Intervention System (NJEIS) ensures that services are provided to infants and toddlers, from birth to three years of age. The services help families with children who have developmental delays and disabilities.

 I would like to acquire a job with agencies that focus on early childhood. The skill I will need to have involves understanding a child’s development and the ability to work together with individuals that practice community of practice.  We all must work together to establish relationships with families and their children, it is the only way we can make an impact for generations to come.  

                                                  

                                                                 References

The New Jersey Parent and Information Resource Center (2014). Retrieved from:

(NJPIRC)http://www.njpirc.org/about.shtml.

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (2012). Retrieved from:  http://www.spanadvocacy.org/

Early Intervention System (NJEIS) Retrieved from: http://www.njeis.org/

Week 1 blog

I always love reading the blogs. This is going to be a wonderful term and I can not wait to read the blogs and gain different perspectives from all my peers. Again good luck to everyone.

Profile of a Volunteer

·         Describe the volunteer efforts of the person you have elected to profile.

The person I elected to profile has volunteered her services with a variety of organizations. Some of these organizations include Girl Scouts of America, Communities in School, Animal Aid Society, and Korean Animal protection society.

·         Identify how you feel this person's work has positively impacted others.

Communities’ Schools helped her to have a direct relationship with children and parents in the community. Volunteer with Girl Scout of America help her to encourage girls to become leaders and contribute to their community.  One of her many goals involve helping to place animals with families who can take care of them.

·         Describe what you feel is a vital "take-away" message relative to this work in terms of your own volunteer efforts and advocacy work in fostering the well-being of children and families.

Over the years I have volunteered with several organizations to improve the lives of children. The vital take away is that if we want to improve the lives of children and families it will take individuals standing up and advocating for them. It is people who make policy makers listen and then make the necessary changes to help children and families in need.

"Using Social Media to Get Connected."

To be honest I’m still struggling when it comes to the world of social media. I really can’t recall a past experience with social media, I can only think in the present. It took me a long time to sign on to Facebook. My mother had Facebook before I did. In fact, she said, “Where you have been Facebook is all the rage.” At that moment I felt older than my own mother.  Despite my initial apprehension, I have come to realize that social media can be very beneficial, especially if people are voicing their opinion about a particular issue or advocating for a cause.

After signing on to the new rage and learning about the benefits of social media, I can say I’m still not in love with it, but I do see the benefits of it. When it comes to advocacy work it is very useful understand when and how to use social media. Twitter is a great way to get the message out quickly, and have an immediate response in real time. Another outlet is YouTube; advocacy groups can use YouTube to get their message out by allowing the audience to view what the organization is all about.

Millions of people are connected to social media all over the world. It is a tool to promote any cause  affecting people in need. I can use twitter, Facebook, and create my own blog in order to get my message out. When people are connected through the world of understanding they will most likely setup and try to help others in need. I want to ask my colleagues, how can social media help promote your advocacy agenda and what other social media outlet can I use to promote mine?