Final Blog Assignment

Post at least three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development:

One consequence of learning about the international early childhood field for my personal development was that it showed me how much work still needs to be done. We all need to come together and address the issues as a whole world. I think if we all stand up as a community and all communities come together we can make a difference in this world.

Another consequence has been that I have learned that there are barriers to quality early childhood care in every country. I learned that it is just not in the US but all around. Other countries have it harder than we do and it hurts me to see that innocent children have to go through certain things.

Another consequence of learning about the early childhood field on the international level is seeing what solutions that are working. They also introduce provide solutions to the issues. It provides a different aspect or look into a common thread, which helps spark new ideals .

Post one goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations

One goal is for me to continue to support the National Head Start Association. I want to make donations The Dollar Per Child campaign. This way I can help make a difference in someone life.

I want to let my classmates to know it is time for us to work together and learn from each other. It is important for us to learn the issues in our field around the world. We should be that advocate for our children and families.

Professional Goals, Hopes and Dreams

For my blog post this week I am doing the alternate assignment. For this alternate assignment, I reviewed UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage. Before this week I was not familiar with this site but it had some very interesting information. It had a lot of information about what we have been discussing in this class. “There are four main links on the site titled: “Access and Equity,” “Quality,” “Investment and Funding,” and “Coordination and Integration”(UNESCO.ORG).

One insight I gain is that families and children that live in poverty don’t get much attention from the government like families and children that are more privileged. The privileged families have access to quality early childhood programs. Its like children that live in poverty don’t matter to the government if they have quality child care or not.

Another insight I gain is funding is still one of the main problems when it comes to quality child care. It seems no matter where in the country funding remains the biggest obstacle in promoting equality in accessing quality early childhood education. Funding is especially a big obstacle in areas where poverty is high.

Another insight I gain is that UNESCO has a goal of finding solutions to increase inclusive education. “This is so important because 75 million children are currently excluded from education for several reasons including poverty, disability, inequity, child labor and speaking a minority language”(UNESCO.ORG).. “One of UNESCO's main goals is to develop the full potential of every individual” (UNESCO.ORG).

Reference:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Sharing Web Resources Part 2:

At the beginning of the course I chose the site National Head Start Association. This week we were asked to expand our knowledge of the organization.

Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?

When searching the website none of the links I found go offsite. I did learn that Head Start got an increase in federal funding. The $610 million increase will give children the opportunity for a head start. “This increase will mean that programs can better support teachers and staff, more children will have access to full-day, full-year early child education, and more infants and toddlers will start off life with the Head Start advantage” (National Head Start Association).

The negotiated omnibus FY 2018 appropriations bill released late Wednesday night includes $9.853 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start, a $610 million increase over FY 2017 funding. The bill includes:

·         $216 million for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Head Start staff (approximately a 2.2% increase, which is in line with inflation)

·         $260 million for partial day, partial-year programs to extend the duration of their services to better meet the needs of working families

·         $755 million for Early Head Start Expansion and Child Care Partnerships (a $115 million increase over FY 2017).

Thoroughly search one area of the site. What do you find?

I chose The Dollar Per Child campaign. The Dollar Per Child campaign is NHSA annual fundraiser that helps us ensure millions of children and families are represented in Washington, D.C. The DPC is the main funding for Head Start advocates. Head Start provides children with an opportunity. Through Dollar per Child (DPC), NHSA ensures that the voices of these at-risk children and their families are heard. You can make donations through their website or by sending checks.

If you receive an e-newsletter, follow a link related to one of the issues you have been studying. What new information is available?

I have not gotten a newsletter as of yet.

Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education?

“Head Start supports families facing difficult circumstances and seeks to mitigate obstacles to learning in the early years” (National Head Start Association). The Head Start program main focus is to help families and children from low-income families. The program provides education for children to grow. It also provides health services to children. Parent Involvement is a big in the Head Start program. They serve on the policy council and volunteer in the classroom and also participate in classes and workshops.

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter?

I learned that if you are an alumni or if your child attended the Head Start program you can join a campaign to encourage former Head Start children and parents to identify themselves. They can share their experience with other former members. They will also have opportunities for professional growth.

Reference:

National Head Start Association http://www.nhsa.org/

Week 5 Blog Assignment

The Global Children’s Initiative is a non-profit organization which is part of the Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child. The center reaches out to all children even worldwide. They especially reach out to those that are at risk of health and development issues that are due to poverty. “Many children fail to reach their full developmental potential by age 5” (Center on the Developing Child, 2018). The center reaches out to different policy makers in other countries to do research on early childhood and how it is important to every child’s development.

The insights or ideas I gained:

1.  There are many people like educators, researchers  and politicians that are working together to improve the early childhood field around the world. When it comes to child development quality childcare is important.

2.  The center reaches out to organizations to help children that may experience a disaster. The center encourages these organizations to work with these children for a large amount of time. This will give children and families enough time to get pass it.

3.  The center works with other countries like Brazil, Canada and Mexico. “In Brazil the partnership has been successful in creating a science driven early childhood movement” (Center on the Developing Child, 2018). “In Canada the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative counter the separation between science, policy and practice work” (Center on the Developing Child, 2018). AFWI is seeking to close the gap in “what we know” in science and “what we do”  and policy and practice (Center on the Developing Child, 2018). In Mexico the “Latin American Innovation clusters connect with the center to enhance child outcomes through adult capacity building” (Center on the Developing Child, 2018). The center works with these countries to improve young children’s condition.

Reference:

The Center on the Developing Child, (2018). Retrieved from   (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/about/what-we-do/global-work/) on April 7, 2018.

Sharing Web Resources

For the past couple weeks I have been learning about the Children Defense Fund. I have learned some very interesting things. The Children Defense Fund as a program called the Student Health Outreach. This program helps graduates and undergraduates to train in community services such as insurance and health care for families and children. This can help with my professional development because I can get a chance to move up and be a speaker and advocate for these families not only in the classroom but other places as well.

I know poverty is huge around the world but after looking at resources like the Children Defense Fund it is help out there. As professionals we need to help our families to find these resources and let them know there are programs and organizations that can help. Parents may not have access to this resources so that is when we step in to help. We must be that voice for our children.

The Children’s Defense Fund works with many children to help them out of poverty and protect them from abuse and neglect. “The Children's Defense Fund has challenged the United States to raise its standards by improving policies and programs for children” (Children Defense Fund, 2010). “Over the years, they have become known for careful research on children’s survival, protection and development in all racial and income groups and for independent analyses of how federal and state policies affect children, their families and their communities. We let the public know how effectively their elected officials stand up for children” (Children Defense Fund, 2010).

Reference:

http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy/endingchildpoverty/