Federal Resources and Agencies

There are several federal or national organizations that do great advocacy work for children and families.  Zero to Three was founded in 1977 with the mission "to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life"(www.zerotothree.org, 2013).  Zero to Three supports infant and toddler development by supporting learning, advocating for families, and making policy recommendations.  They also have a strong resource area for teachers and families, which features a newsletter that contains information about what parents may be seeing developmentally and how they can foster that development.  One position that they have open that I would be interested in is their Senior Writer/Training Specialist position, which is responsible for planning and over-seeing conferences, peer review and editing, and provide workshops and large trainings for staff.  To achieve this position one must have strong knowledge of Head Start policies, effective written and oral skills, and strong knowledge of early childhood development especially infant and toddler development.

Another national organization is the Children's Defense Fund whose mission is defined as an effort to "leave no child behind by ensuring that every child has a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start"(www.childrensdefensefund.org, 2013).  The Children's Defense Fund is an advocacy group for the whole child not just for education and care purposes.  Currently, there are no positions open that I would be qualified for.

The final organization is the Division for Early childhood, which promotes policies and advances for evidence-based practices that support families and ensure the optimal development of young children who have or are at-risk for delays (www.dec-sped.org).  They work to ensure that children with special needs, disabilities, or are gifted/talented are receiving the programs they need to be successful.   The program only has a core group of staff; however, takes recommendations and publishes articles from early childhood professionals.  To contribute one must have knowledge of early childhood and special education. 

Resources:

Zero To Three  www.zerotothree.org

Children's Defense Fund  www.childrensdefensefund.org

The Division for Early Childhood  www.dec-sped.org

Exploring Communities of Practice

In my area there are three small communities of practice that I believe do excellent work in regards to supporting practitioners, children, and families.  The first one is the York County Directors Association which is composed of directors of local child development centers.  The directors meet once a month to discuss experiences and challenges that they may be facing in their centers.  For example, a recent meeting focused on how to support and encourage early childhood teachers.  I think a small network like this, although very informal, is a great tool which allows the members to discuss problems and share solutions.  The group is so small that they do not have any online presence.  The second group that I would like to discuss is York County First Steps, which is an organization that focuses on getting children ready for school by supporting the children, teachers, and centers in which they are enrolled.  The agency is part of a state agency which shares the same mission.  Any early childhood educator can join the group as long as their center is willing to participate.  First Steps offers trainings, professional development, parent resources, and grants for children, schools, and families.  The final organization is Easter Seals, which provides services for people with disabilities.  Easter Seals has an amazing early childhood branch which sends qualified teachers and therapists to work with children in school and in the home if the child is not able to attend school.  Easter Seals works with teachers to provide training, support, and adaptive equipment so that children can participate to the fullest extent possible.

One career that I would be interested in is a Program Manager at Easter Seals, which requires a Master's degree in Early Childhood education.  The position also requires that the candidate be organized, passionate, and inspiring all important characteristics for working with children and families.  Another career I would be interested in is being an instructor in a community college, which would allow me to help students find their own networks and sources of support.

Resources

Easter Seals  www.eastersealsucp.com
First Steps  www.scfirststeps.org