Time Well Spent

Deep felt learning I have gained from the Early Childhood Studies Program are a more in depth knowledge of the early childhood field. An understanding of how important a person’s culture, values and beliefs are to who they are as an individual. I have also learned the importance of establishing relationships between children and their families. Finally, I have realized that standing up for what you believe and staying focus is a characteristic of being an effective advocate.

Long term goal
One long term goal that I have as an early childhood professional is to continue to be passionate towards the early childhood field and be an effective advocate for children and their families.

Farewell message

A special thank you to Dr. Teri for all the support and opportunities you have provided me with to be successful in the Capstone course.  I would like to also thank my colleagues for the positive feedback you have given to me during this Capstone course.  I appreciate the insight and ideas you've shared during this period.  My wish is for you as a colleague to fulfill your desires in life on your professional journey as an early childhood professional.

Wordle Ebony's Whohoo

http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/7204379/Ebony%27s_Whohoo

Quotes

"Alone we can do so little together we can do so much." Helen Keller

" It takes a village to raise a child." African Proverb

"Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven."Henry Ward Beecher

Ebony Williams

Contact information is:

williams606@att.net

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

One of the organization I chose to explore was the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is passionate about promoting the equal rights of children, and supporting their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. They have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality.  That makes UNICEF unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young. UNICEF believes that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress.  UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. UNICEF believes that together we can, advance the cause of humanity.

Save the Children is another organization that caught my attention. They are the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. They were recognized for their commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, they work in the heart of communities, to help children and families help themselves. Save the Children works with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining their own independence without political agenda or religious orientation.

The last agency that appealed to me was Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems.

 The jobs that I am interested in at UNICEF are Child Protection Specialist in Iraq and a Planning Specialist in Kenya both jobs are available and no skills were listed. Save the Children organization have opportunities for forming partnerships to assist with funding and advocating for children and their families. At the Organization forEconomic Co-operation and Development (OECD) the position I am interested in is Research Assistant is Paris.

The skills I would need to fulfill the roles of the positions will include need effective verbal and written communication. I would also need to be able to speak and translate the native language, possess skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.  An excellent written and oral command of one of the two official languages of the OECD (English and French) and working knowledge of, or willingness to learn, the other. A  knowledge of other languages would be an asset to assist children and their families.

 

 

References

www.unicef.org

www.oecd.org

www.savethechildren.org

 

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

One of the agencies I chose to explore was the National Headstart association I like the nationalHead Start Association because it encourages all children to reach their full potential; they believe every child can succeed. They also strive to impact the success of at risk children while trying to make a difference in the lives of children and families they serve.

Another organization is Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital. I like Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital mission is to keep children healthy and well. I like Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital because they try to keep the children and their families healthy by educating them on their illness or disease with strategies that help keep them healthy and well. They also provide classes that are helpful and activities to keep the children entertained in the hospital setting when they have to stay due to an illness are relapse. The last agency that appealed to me was Texas Health Human Services. This is a state agency that has an interest in the safety and welfare of young children.

The jobs that I am interested in working for are the National Head Start Association as developmental specialist, early childhood education specialist and Headstart education & disability service manager. With the Texas Health Human Services the job that was appealing to me is as a childcare license inspector and at Our Lady of Lake Children's Hospital the job that call my attention was a child health education specialist.

The skills I would need to fulfill the roles of the position of developmental specialist, early childhood education specialist and Head Start education & disability service manager are a master's degree in early childhood. I would also need affect of verbal and written communication. I would need to possess skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

References

www.nhsa.org
www.hhsc.statetx.us
www.ololrmc.com

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

One of the agencies I chose to explore was the Department of Health& Hospitals Early Steps Program in the state of Louisiana. I like the early steps program because it provides services to families with children from birth to age three who have a disability or if they are developmental delayed. These services are provided to children with delays in cognitive, motor, vision, hearing, communication, social-emotional or adaptive development may be eligible for services. These services are designed to improve the family's capacity to enhance their child's development. The services are provided in the child's natural environment, so they feel comfortable.

Another agency is the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). The Children Defense Fund is a child advocacy organization that ensures a level playing field for all children. I am fond of this organization because it lifts children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, and a quality education. The last agency that appealed to me was the Louisiana Early Childhood Association (LAECA).This is a state agency that has an interest in the welfare of young children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.

The jobs that I am interested in working for are the Louisiana Department of Education as an Early Childhood Coordinator, an early interventionist with the early steps program and special education supervisor.

The skills I would need to fulfill the roles of the positions as an early interventionist and early childhood coordinator are to have strong organizational skills, to be flexible in nature, and to have an energetic and engaging personality. Effective communications and collaboration skills are essential, when working with parents, family and teachers. Be able to coordinate with the team of multidisciplinary service professionals working with the same family. Be able to come up with appropriate learning and developmental goals and supports for the child and their family. Also be able to document the child’s progress. An interventionist test will have to be passed in order to work as an interventionist.

References

www.louisianabelieves.com

www.earlysteps.dhh.louisiana.gov

www.childrensdefense.org

www.laeca.org

 

Reflecting on Learning

One hope that I have when working with children and their families from diverse backgrounds is that they will be treated equally by everyone. Every individual should be afforded the same opportunities as others. One goal I would like to see in the early childhood field regarding diversity, equity, and social justice is that every child and their families would receive the same fair and equal treatment at all times. As an early childhood professional I would not let bias views, discrimination, race, sexual identity, gender or varying abilities hinder me from creating a nurturing environment that produces successful outcomes for all children and their families.

I would like to thank Dr. Myers and my co-learners for the feedback they have provided me with during the Strategies for Working with Diverse Children course. I appreciate the insight and ideas you have shared during this period. My wish for you as a co-learner is to fulfill your desires in life and on your professional journey.

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

The region I chose to explore was South Asia. The reason I chose South Asia is with all the fighting going on in that region I wanted to know where they stood on implementing early childhood education.  Some of the challenges this region faces are support young children, their families and communities, in all the areas where the child is growing physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually. The funding for the early childhood education is another problem this region faces. Expanding quality early childhood education, particularly to the most marginalized, therefore could help promote equity and inclusion in education and society in general. There are over forty-two million children that are not going children that are going to school the education are unsatisfactory.  Children are not receiving proper medical treatment that is needed like immunizations against polio and measles. There are many that do not get the proper nourishment they need and are malnourish.

The first eight years of a child’s life is a critical period when incredible growth and development occur. Exposure to a quality early childhood education is crucial because it helps with tremendous brain development that lays the foundation for latter learning. The growing evidence that children who have participated in high quality early childhood education programs exhibit considerable gains in social, educational, health and intellectual spheres than those who have not participated (UNICEF, 2012).

South Asia is home to more than a third of the world’s children who lack a basic education.  As an early childhood professional I think South Asia is lacking in many areas for the children of that region to have a productive environment for them to be successful.  In reviewing the information from the website I think about how we stress to the families we serve about our children’s health. We stress that if the child is healthy they we be able and eager to learn. By taking a look at South Asia I am very thankful for the programs and services that are available for our children and their families to take advantage of in the United States. In the United States our children have the opportunity to receive free medical treatment and not be impaired by the childhood diseases they are faced with in other regions of the world. UNICEF is a great organization that tries to bring some of the same opportunities our children have in the United States to other regions of the world.

 

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html.

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

“There is growing evidence that premature exposure to adult sexual images and values has a negative impact on the psychological development of children, particularly on self-esteem, body image and understanding of sexuality and relationships (Manocha, 2010). As an educator and parent I think the early childhood years should be spent providing a foundation that would be effective in our children being ready and successful in school. They should not be worried about how they look or learning about sexualization they are babies.

I have encountered young children who have been exposed to sexualization in the early childhood classroom. Once I had a student that used words that referred to parts of a women’s body that children should not use. He would tell the girls to come and sit on his private area. Another incident was a student that loved to play with stuffed animals in the quite area. From time to time I would catch her lying on top of the stuffed animals.   Last year I had a student that would wrap her legs around the pole of the swing and tell others this is what you do in the club.

Sexualization may contribute in girls defining their self-worth and popularity in terms of sexual attraction and their body structure, with a negative impact on self-esteem. I would try to provide school based literacy programs that have a positive effect on body images. I would supervise children’s media exposure and make sure it is age appropriate.

The topic of sexualization in the early childhood field has informed me about what’s going on with young children. Before reading the article ”So Sexy So Soon” I really did not know that young children knew the vocabulary and meaning of different sexual terms that were used in the article. I will be careful to what I expose my children to through television, books and other media sources. So I can prevent the exposure of sexualization in my early childhood setting. Television has the potential to generate both positive and negative effects, and many studies have looked at the impact of television on society, particularly on children (Pediatric, 2003).

 

 

References

 

Manocha,R. (2010). The impact on children of sexualisation in the media.

Pediatric Child Health. (2003). Impact of media use on children and youth: May-Jun; 8(5): 301–306.