"Profile of a Volunteer"

The person I chose to profile is a former Head Start parent of mine that dedicated so much of her time to my classroom.  She came almost everyday and help out in the classroom with whatever we needed.  She helped with serving meals, cleaning, running errands, cutting out letters for bulletin boards, etc.  She also accompanied us on field trips often which was always good to have another person along.  The children loved her and were just as comfortable with her as they were with the teachers.

I feel her work has positively impacted others because she devoted so much time to her child's education and to the school as well.  It also impacted others because Head Start gets in-kind credit for volunteers, and although she knew that volunteering her time helped the school in some capacity, I don't think she realized to what extent.

The vital message here is that there are always opportunities to play a part in educating children and making a lasting impact on their lives as they grow and learn. We should all look for ways to play a part in fostering the well-being of children and families.

Thanks to all my parent volunteers for your hard work and dedication

"Using Social Media to Get Connected"

My experience with social media consists of a facebook page and a blog that I  use for class.  I read a lot of posts by others on facebook, but I rarely post anything myself unless it is wishing someone a happy birthday or liking a comment or picture that someone posted.

Social media tools that are effective for advocacy are the ability to post links, pictures and other information on a media page in order for others to see.  I would use these tools to educate and inspire others by posting encouraging stories and quotes and by providing information that will be valuable to those with an interested in areas that concern children and families and improving the quality of services to them.

Some of peoplehave suggested that I create a twitter account in order to reach more people.

"Advocacy Messages"

Great parenting is done through "on the job training", and it's something you get better at as time passes. There are so many children that need someone who is just willing to take a chance.


Often times fathers are not involved or have limited involvement in their children's lives. We need to make sure that fathers understand the importantance of being a part of their child's growth and development. Kids don't understand why dad always has to work or why he is not there, so take time out for what they do understand.



https://www.psacentral.org

"My Own Capacity"

Which issues impacting young children and their families and/or the field of early childhood fuel your passion?

 All issues concerning young children and their families fuel my passion, especially
 issues dealing with abuse/neglect and child hunger.  The thought of any child
 being hungry or abused/neglected makes me want to work harder as an
 advocate to help put an end to abuse/neglect and hunger.

What resources do you have at your disposal that can benefit your advocacy work? 

 My work, education and experience as an early childhood educator has provided me with many valuable resources such as local, state and national  organizations and agencies that support the well being of children and families.  I have also acquired a lot of resources through classes and research while at Walden that I will continue to use over the years to benefit my advocacy work.  

In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be a more effective advocate?

I hope to broaden my knowledge of the issues that affect young children and families by continuing to stay informed of the changes in early children education, as well as, the policies that affect the services to children and families.  I hope to build relationships with other advocates and become more involved in organizations that also support children and families.



                

Personal Advocacy Reflection

I remember being a Head Start student and having the two best teachers in the world.   As a child, I learned alot from these teachers, and I loved them dearly.  I always considered my time at Head Start as the best educational experience ever.  
In 1994, I went to work for Head Start as a Teacher, and those same two women were still working for Head Start.  They were serving in other roles for the program, but still had the same devotion and dedication.  I have always been inspired by their years of working with young children and being advocates, not only for Head Start, but for young children everywhere.  Over the years, I've strived to be just as good of a teacher for the children in my class as these women where to me.  I wanted to impact the children that I was teaching the way that my teachers impacted me.   Their impact made me realized the passion I have for educating and advocating for children.   I hope in my time as an educator, I have (will) inspire other children as well.

"WELCOME"

Hello everyone and welcome to class!!! I'm looking forward to working with you and sharing lots of great information and ideas.  Good luck to you all!!

"Advocacy Messages"

"Teach your kids how to stop bullying and be more than a bystander"

-This message is effective because it encourages children to take a stand against bullying instead of standing around and watching someone be bullied.  It lets children know that bullying can be prevent and/or stop if they step in and let the ones doing the bullying know that it's wrong and they won't tolerate it.

"Give. Advocate. Volunteer.  Live United"

-This message encourages people to become involved in making a change in their community.  It also encourages them to advocate for the needs of others regardless of who they are and it encourages unity among all people.


(http://www.adcouncil.org)

"My Own Capacity"

Which issues impacting young children and their families and/or the fieldof early childhood fuel your passion?

               

                Issues that fuel my passion include poverty, improper healthcare and inadequate educational oppourtunities.  These are all basic needs that children and families should have in order to develop and survive.  This country should have better system in place to make sure that nobody has to live in poverty or suffer through health and educational shortfalls due to the lack of effective programs and/or resources in place to make sure their basic needs are being met.

What knowledge, skills, dispositions and/or talents do you possess that will contribute to your advocacy work?

                  My years of experience as a educator working with children and families and the education and training I have receieved over the years has prepared me to identify and understand issues that impact children and families and the directions I will need to take in order to become an effective advocate.  I have learned about identifying stakeholders who have a vested interest in the issues concerning children and families.  I have also learn how commuinty resources, policy makers,  other advocates, and even families play an important role in advocating for children.  I believe this combination of training, education and experience, along with my desire to continue learniing as much as I can about advocacy will continue to be a positive contribution to my advocacy work.

In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be a more effective advocate?

                I hope to continue to learn as much as I can about becoming an effective advocate by continuing to work with other advocates and by continuing to expand my knowledge of the issues that impact children and families.  I also hope to continue to stay informed of changes and challenges that occur by using available resources and information to strengthen my advocacy efforts. As wel I hope to continue to build effective, positive and trusting relationship with children and families.

"My Role as an Advocate"

What motivated you to start advocating for young children?
Young children can not speak for themselves, therefore, they need a voice to speak for them to make sure that their needs are being met on a continuous basis.

Why is it essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts at the micro as well as the macro level?
Great advocacy efforts work best at all levels, micro and macro.  It takes working together on all levels to become great advocates for children.

What does it take to become a community leader on early childhood issues?
It takes actively partnering with the community to identify and address early childhood issues.  It involves listening to the concerns and challenges within the community and working together to provide more effective early childhood opportunities.

What resources does it take to be a state leader on early childhood issues?
It takes a commitment to making sure that everything possible is being done at the state level to make sure the needs of children and families are being met.  Leaders at the state level must work closely with leaders at the local level to reach the same outcoome.

What tactics or strategies do you use to mobilize others?
Sharing information about advocacy efforts and opportunities to expand efforts and get others involved.  Join professionals organizations and share information from these organizations with others.  Create new opportunities for involvement by soliciting ideas and suggestions from others and working together to put these ideas into action.

What advice do you give to someone who was interested in taking a leadership role in advocating for young children and their families?
I would advise them to identify the issues that are the most important to them and work to create partnerships with others who can relate to these issues and those who could become a valuable resources as they work to resolve the issues.  I will also advise sharing information and strategies that have proven successful and incorportating these strategies in current advocacy efforts.

"HELLO"

Hello Everyone,
     I'm looking forward to sharing with you as we continue on our educational journey.  Good luck to all!!!!

When I Reflect About My Collegial, Professional Learning Community

Being a part of a professional learning community has contributed to my professional growth and accomplishments by creating an environment for me that allowed me learn and develop along with others who share the same passion for educating young children as I do.  It has also allowed me opportunities to share in the experiences of my colleagues and learn new things that have provided me with valuable insight into various aspects of the early childhood field.  I've had the chance to learn more about changes and challenge that occurring in the early childhood field by collaborative efforts of my professional learning community and their dedication and commitment to becoming better advocates of early education.

It has also been a rewarding experience being able to relate to others who understand how important early education is and how important our roles as educators and advocates are to ensuring that young children are given a fair opportunity to grow and learn in a healthy, creative environment that will have a lasting impact on them.
One goal I hope to accomplish is to expand my knowledge of the different types of special needs presented by my colleagues, as well as, other special needs that affect the lives of young children and families daily.  I also want to increase my knowledge of the current services that are available to these families and what additional services are needed.

My Hypothetical Family Situation

I am a married woman about to adopt a child with my husband of six years. Quincy is a five year old little boy and has been diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome. The Mayo Clinic defines shaken baby syndrome is a serious brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking an infant or toddler (Mayo Clinic). As a result of this brain injury, Quincy has cerebral palsy , frequent seizures and developmental delays. He has had several surgeries and numerous procedures to correct the damages to his brain. He also takes several different medications, receives speech and language therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

My husband and I both have very good jobs, and I am currently enrolled in graduate school. Quincy came to us as a foster child at five months old, and although we have tried to adopt him before, the parental rights of the biological mother prevented us from doing so.

My husband and I both speak English as our first language. We have a have large family, but no one that can help with child care needs on an ongoing basis. Quincy attends a child development center during the day, and we are in the process of hiring a caregiver to transport him from school and address his personal needs for a few hours in the afternoon until we arrive home.

Health services will benefit Quincy now and in the future due to the extensive procedures, medications, and therapies he requires. Also, early learning and development is needed to help him grow and learn since is currently at a nine month old developmental level. We also need supportive services to help us learn to help him and to be able to understand as much as possible about his diagnosis, treatments and other ongoing care.

http://www.mayoclinic.com

Have I given a complete picture of my family, or are there details missing that I should include in order to complete the assignment successfully? If so, what are your suggestions?

Are there any specific websites I should be reviewing with regard to learning about quality services and programs for my child and family in this hypothetical family situation?

Parent, Family and Community Engagement

The stories touch me personally and professional because they provided insight into the great experiences many children and families have encountered through the Head Start program.  The parents spoke of the educational opportunities that were provided to their children and how they where enriched and empowered by being a part of the program.  Head start helped them to acquire knowledge and services that were important to developing relationships with their children and with staff members.  It also helped many parents build their self esteem by being a part of the program and the positive experiences that the program instills. 
These stories help childcare professional realize the value and the reward of what they do and it allows them to continue to advocate for young children in order to make sure their needs are being met.  It renews the strength of educators and helps them to keep fighting to make sure policy makers and the government understands how essential early education is to children and families.

Involvement opportunities for parents and families in the early childhood program are essential for meeting the needs of children, both at home and at school.  Effective communication is key in setting goals for children and families and for meeting and addressing the needs that will allow the child and the parents to develop successful relationships that will continue throughout their lifetime.  I believe parent/family involvement is an essential system element for all strands of service in the early childhood field because it shows parents how important their role is in educating their children and helping to set goals for what they want to see them accomplish.  It's also essential to make sure the needs of children are being met on all levels possible and that adjustments are made to make sure children grow develop appropriately.


Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC), part of the Office of Head Start.http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs

What Resonates With You About Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy

"In the field of early childhood education, advocacy is the willingness to take a stand on behalf of children and families that goes beyond common decency or expectations" (Kieff, J, 2009). As an educator and an advocate children, it is important for me to continuously increase my knowledge of the issues and concerns that that regularly affect children and families.  It's also important for me to recognize and understand the different concepts of advocacy and the characteristics that will make me a more effective advocate.

"Advocacy is a proactive stance taken by individuals in response to particular issues that concern them" (Kieff, J., 2009).  Becoming a skill and confident advocate is crucial for early childhood professionals and the field because it puts professionals in a better position to work for children and families on local and national levels.  It allows professionals to make sure that others know the importance of what children need to grow and development, as well as, protect their individual rights and needs.

I hope to learn how advocacy and public policy impacts children and families in both positive and negative ways.  I also hope to learn how to become a more effective advocate for children and families by learning from others and by learning how I can increase my advocacy efforts for children and families.  Also, I hope to develop ongoing resources and support that will allow me to become a more effective advocate for the early childhood field.

Kieff, J. (2009). Informed advocacy in early childhood care and education: Making a difference for young children and families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc

Time Well Spent

I am extremely happy about finally completing this program at Walden.  It has been a long, but successful journey,  and I have learned a lot of new things that will benefit as I continue on life's journey.  I've learned about diversity which allows me to understand the differences in other cultures, lifestyles, and background.  Diversity has also taught me to self-evaluate in order to eliminate personal biases I have about others and to recognize the individual differences that make us all unique.  I've also learned about building communities of practice in order to help me identify the problems and concerns that exist in the early childhood field.  The more people I involve in my community of practice will help me to broaden my thinking and develop solutions that will benefit children and families.  Also, I've learned that early childhood field consists of a lot of dedicated and passionate educators who work hard to ensure that all children receive appropriate educational opportunities.  These educators continually strive to increase equality in education in order to promote growth and development in all children.

One of my long term goals is to continue my education in order to stay informed of the constant changes in the early childhood field and become a stronger advocate for children and families. 

Dr. Shephard, you have made this last semester a true learning experience.  I thank you for all of your feedback, suggestions and additional resources which were all very helpful through the course.  I have been inspired by your dedication to helping us complete our journey.  Again, thank you and God bless.

Colleagues/friends, it has been an amazing journey!  I have learned so much from all of you through your stories and experiences, and it made learning so much easier knowing that we were all in it together.  I wish all of you much success in the future, and hopefully I will see some of you in future courses.  Stay positive, remain passionate, and continue to work for our children, as well as inspire others.  Good Luck and Thanks for Sharing!!!  
(Email: angel2angelx3@yahoo.com)


"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
                                                                                 Dolly Parton
"Be who you are, and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter
  don't mind"
                                                                                        Dr. Seuss

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

National Children's Advocacy Center - works to respond to and prevent child abuse through education, service and leadership.  It works to get the agencies, law enforcement and the courts to respond in a timely matter to child abuse issue, as well as, train others to deal with the problem of child abuse.  I chose this organization because it encourages organizations to work together to protect children from abuse
National Head Start Association - works to provide low income children and families with early childhood educational opportunities.  It also participates with community outreach in order to place families with needed services and information. I chose Head Start because I am a big supporter of the program and how they make a difference in the lives of children and families. All children need to receive an appropriate education regardless of financial abilities, and Head Start works to make sure that they have the opportunity
National Association for the Education of Young Children - works on behalf of young children to set standards of excellence for programs and teachers in early childhood education.  I chose this organization because it  makes sure that the ece programs and teachers are providing quality education and service to children and families.


Job opportunities:  Early Childhood Instructor, Child Life Specialist, Parent Educator
Along with the current skills and experience I have, I would need to become familiar with the specific regulations related to each of these jobs including curriculum development and identifying developmental objectives for children and families.


www.nationalcac.org
www.nhsa.org
www.naeyc.org

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Child Care Resources, Inc - Provides resource and referral services for children and families, supports high quality learning and helps programs start, improve and sustain high quality services.
I chose this program because it helps families locate and afford child care services within the community.  Many families have trouble finding quality child care, especially when they are new to an area, and this agency helps with referrals and with the cost of child care.
Smart Start - A private organization that provides health, family support and early care and education for children ages birth to five and their families.  I chose this program because it focus on meeting the needs of children from birth, it supports health and education, and  it also provides early childhood educators with incentives for working with children and families.
Thompson Child and Family Focus - Provides developmental and preventive services to children and their families through educational and therapeutic resources.  I choose this agencies because it provides family support services to children and families facing a variety of needs and concerns in order to promote future development and learning.

Job opportunities:  Inclusion specialist, Child Development Specialist, Education Coordinator, Child Care Director.
Along with the current education and experience that I already have, I would need to become more familiar with the NC licensing guidelines and the 5 star rating system.  Also for the Child Care Director position I will need to complete Administration I & II.

When I Think of Research.....

The insights I have gained about research from taking this course is that there is a lot of work and effort that goes into doing research, and a lot of information obtain as a result of it.  I am glad that I learned how to look for reputable information when doing research, and how to determine what makes a research study more valid.

My ideas about doing research haven't changed much.  I still think it's a complicated process that requires special people to do it, but I don't think I'm one of those people.  I will be willing to read the results, but I don't think I want to be the one doing the actual research.

The lessons I learned is to make sure that you are researching a topic that you are interested in, and to develop the research questions thoroughly in order to be able to move forward with the next steps of the research process.  One challenge I encountered was that my research questions was initially too broad and it hindered me from moving on with the next steps in the research process.  I am glad I have some excellent feedback during this class that helped me to sort out the steps that were the most challenging for me.

My perceptions have been modified because I have gained a new respect for the people that do research.  I understand that there is a definite need for research in order to find answers to important questions that will benefit the early childhood field, as well as, many other areas.  I'm glad there are those out there who are committed to doing research in order to provide others with a better understanding of the various questions of this world.

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive during this course.  I hope you all have gained a better understanding of the research process.  Good luck in the future!!!

Research Around the World

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is committed to  improving the quality of life for children and their families in Africa.  Their efforts are continent wide efforts with ECD leaders addressing capacity building and leadership development in Africa.


Some of the current research topics include: Leadership skills training for administrators and parent support training for caregivers, 2) Curriculum development  using community resources, 3)Strengthening the capacity of grandparents in providing care for children less than 8 years old affected by HIV/AIDS, 4)Assessment of interaction and stimulation in single parent low income families, 5)Involving fathers in early childhood care and development.


Insights about early childhood from exploring this international early childhood site:  ECDVU uses a generative curriculum approach. Some characteristics of this approach is 1)learner-focused approach which is drawing as much as possible on the learner's experiences in their personal and professional lives 2)ecological approach-placing individuals, programs and policies into an interactive and dynamic context and seeking to plan activities and interventions to maximize resonating impact throughout the larger ecology 3) capacity building approach-aiming to strategically strengthen the capacities of participants to effectively fulfill their mandates in their professional position and to be accountable to their constituents and the broader ECD community in their countries.  Although most education activities claim this a general purpose, the ECDVU addresses capacity development in a specific strategic manner.


-ECDVU sees great potential in leadership capacity building through face to face interviews, on the job learning, web-based learning and network building.
-ECDVU candidates were chosen by their country committees as emergent leaders to function as key interactors within  and outside their countries.  Participation in ECDVU is an investment in improving the well being of children, families, and communities in their countries.  Participants are evaluated in terms of their effectiveness in moving forward 'agendas for children' in their countries.   






http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php
http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

Research that Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

I worked with a family with a special needs foster child for about five years.  The child was a former student at a child development center were I worked, and when the family needed assistance with his care, they contacted me to see if I would be interested in helping part time.  He was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome, along other neurological complications as a result of being shaken.  He couldn't walk or talk and he had seizures back to back, ranging from very small to very severe.  He had to wear a helmet because often times the severe seizures would cause him to bang his head on the floor. 
I remember all the times he had to have this or that procedure done or the doctors keep switching the medicines to help control the seizures.  For years nothing seem to help, until finally, the doctors got the medicines and doses right.  We begin to see the seizures decrease and, eventually stop altogether.  He begin to crawl and became more away of his environment.  He also begin to express his wants, likes and dislikes, and he was able to recognize familiar people.
Last year he begin walking at the age of nine years old, and he continues to meet new goals.  Although, he still can not speak, he has defeated all the odds thus far, so I'm looking for him to blurt out any day now.
I believe that continued research for treatments of neurological disorders is why this child continues to thrive and progress daily. The procedures and treatments that were questionable at the time, proved to help him progress in his growth and development. This is definitely one of those case where research has benefited this child and family, and now the same research can help many other children and families.