The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

During this week class, I am learning how the early care and education systems are formed/function. We have the federal laws which all states have to abide by and then the at the state level the funding for early child care varies by the state.
I also notice about the difference between decentralized vs  centralized in the federal/state programs.
For example, my career is funded at the state level for ECE but if funding to early childhood education is ever  cut then my job is at risk.
There is numerous funding for programs in the early childhood field, but we as nation, society (whatever you want to call it) must be able to agree to disagree on policies, rules and regulations.
We are all on the same team advocating for children and families.

Parent, Family, and COmmunity Engagement

The professional and personal significance I drew from these stories were the families of the children enrolled in the head start programs are very grateful for all the services head starts programs provide for the children/families. As for the professional significance I drew from the stories is how each of the families have different life events taking place within their lives, their children lives therefore as ECE professionals we live and learn from the families we serve. This will better prepare me with the social/emotional aspects if children, families, and the community on how to serve as a child advocate.




The involvement opportunities for parents and family members benefit young children, families, and the early childhood field because the Head Starts provide adequate resource and referral information for children. The Head Starts in Georgia provide healthy meals, medical, and dental screening for the children (www.ndo.org).   


The value that hearing such stories has for early childhood professionals, for the public, and for policymakers and government officials to comprehend exactly the day to day lives of the children and families they may have hardship . Now, the hardship does not have to be financial, but the emotional stress the parents may have in seeking a job, or just the stress of the job. The stories are the voice of the people in which hopefully the policymakers pay attention- not just listening to these stories.

My opinion regarding why parent/family involvement is an essential system element for all strands of service in the early childhood field because it takes a village to raise a child and a community to raise children. 

References:

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC), part of the Office of Head Start  2014 retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs

Quality Programs for All Children

 My current public opinion in the USA with regard to the value and importance of providing quality services for young children and families is are we as a society/nation forgetting the No Child Left Behind Act? Policies and decision making results in who individuals/communities elect in office to represent the children and families in the community. In my opinion, we as a nation has become consumed with the politics/parties instead of viewing these politicians on the merit as individuals along with how they will uphold the advocating for children and families.   

If we as a nation do not have "our house" in order early childhood education will suffer. All strands of service will be affected do to how the policies will change, funding especially federal funding may/will be cut  educational programs therefore the birth through  five receiving an early childhood education can be impacted. I also hope to see in five years quality affordable child care programs. Numerous child care programs closed statewide due to the economy and for these programs to close, this put parents in a displacement which probably put parents in a financial hardship because another program maybe out of their budget. Our nation needs also to respect the field of early childhood education along with salaries to demonstrate to the ECE professionals for their hard work.  


"In order to save the world, we must save one child at a time". Brittney E.

What Resonates With You About Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy?

Part 1: Why did you choose this specialization? When I decided to make the decision to apply for my Masters Degree I was uncertain into which program/specialization to study. With the assistance of the enrollment specialist  at WU, Mr. Rupp explained to me the differences in the courses. Mr. Rupp and I talked like for weeks in regards with me becoming at student.  When I researched Public Policy and Child Advocacy I knew I want to be the voice for the children- I speak up for everyone anyway, but I wanted to learn how these policies are developed and approved.  I wanted to educated myself about Public Policy to see how this will affect my profession, livelihood, and most important the children.




Part 2: Why are advocates essential in the early childhood field?
 Advocates are essential in the ECE field because we are the building blocks of the foundation. Without advocates in the ECE field, who will represent us? Advocates keep the children/families, educators, communities, and politicians informed and involved in the early childhood field.




  Part 3: What do you hope to learn about public policy and advocacy? 
 I hope to learn about public policy and advocacy the detail in which how policies are created, the duration it takes for the policies to be heard and become into law. I also want to learn new techniques on how to advocate for the children. Learning new terminology in the ECE field will not only educated myself but also I can educated my community, children and families.