Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

The professional and personal significance I drew from these stories is how beneficial we, as educators, are.  Until you hear it from either a parent or family member, or you see it in the progress that the children are making, you may not realize how important this job is.  

Involvement opportunities for parents and family members benefit young children, families, and the early childhood field. When families are involved in a child’s early childhood experience, it makes the child feel more comfortable and it shows them that they are loved and supported. It is also a way to bring the family together.  Last but not least, it benefits the early childhood field because shows support of the experience that we are attempting to give each child and it also gives the families a better understanding of the early childhood field as a whole.

Hearing such stories motivates early childhood professionals, the public, policymakers and government officials to work harder to make the early childhood field a continued success. It also gives more awareness of the field and the good it does.

Parent involvement is an essential system element for all stands of service in the early childhood field. In order for the early childhood field to continue to thrive and continue to be successful, parents and families must be involved in every aspect of the educational process. Without parent involvement, there would be no early childhood field. It takes parents, families, children, teachers, advocates, and the community to make this field a success.

Quality Programs for All Children

In my opinion, there is not enough emphasis  placed on the value and importance of providing quality services for young children and families.  I hope in the near future, people see how important early childhood education really is. We help prepare children for headstart, preschool, and all other educational endeavors. There is not enough funding available to for adequate early childhood programs and there is not enough assistance to help parents pay for quality programs.  I think one of my main concerns is the fact that, in my city at least, early childhood educators are some of the lowest paid. It is hard to find quality educators when the pay is not right. Without qualified teachers, we can not provide the educational needs that need to be met. 

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

Part 1: I chose this specialization because I am currently and Early Childhood Educator and I see children and families who need assistance or atleast someone to speak up for them and I currently don't feel as though I am able to do that. I know that as a teacher there are resources available to me but I want to more knowledgeable on the subject of advocacy.

Part 2: Advocates are essential in the early childhood field because they are the voice for families, children, and those in the field.  Without advocates the needed changes in the field or potential issues would never be brought to the light and changes would never be made. 

Part 3: I hope to learn where to look when I need advice about public policies and advocating. I also want to learn how to be a better advocate for the families and children that I am currently working with. Last but not least, I want learn about professional organization so that I can become more involved in the field of advocating.

Profile of a Volunteer

 The volunteer I have elected to profile would be my great grandfather. Before he passed away, he volunteered in church and at many community events. His presence was truly amazing and he has always been my hero.  He mentored many young kids over the years and gave them the love and guidance that they were not receiving from others.  He gave selflessly of himself every day.  Even when he was in pain or down on his luck, he took the time to help others. Without him, I feel as though a lot of young people's lives would have been completely different. He helped many see that they were valued and loved and that through Christ, nothing was impossible.

A vital "take-away" message relative to this work in terms of my own volunteer efforts and advocacy work in fostering the well-being of children and families is to always have a positive attitude and do it because you want to and not because you have to.

Using Social Media to Get Connected

Currently the only social media that I use is Facebook.  I use it to keep in contact with friends and family that I do not get to talk to often.  I feel like Facebook is a great media tool that lends itself to effective advocacy because it reaches millions of people at one time. It also makes it possible to reach people all over the world, if used properly.  I could post positive messages and concerns as a way to educate and inspire others in my advocacy work. I know that many people view my page and it is my responsibility to make sure that everything that is read on my page is positive and educational or at least not negative.

What do you feel is the best social media site to use to advocate for children and families?

Avocacy Messages

Autism Speaks:
Toni Braxton: Odds of having 3 multi-platinum albums  1/1,650,000
                      Odds of having a child diagnosed with autism 1/88 

Using celebrities causes people to pay attention to the message they are delivering. It cause them to want to learn more and to take action

Fatherhood Involvement:
Take time to be a dad today.

Messages that are short and to the point stick in people's heads and then they choose to take action whether conscientiously or subconsciously.

Bullying Prevention:
Teach your kids how to stop bullying and be more than a bystander.

My Own Capacity

I apologize for my blog being late but I have been battling strep throat and a 102.5 temperature for the last few days.

The issue impacting young children and their families and/or the field of early childhood that fuels my passion would have to be childhood abuse and malnutrition.  In the society we live in today, there are many resources out there for families and children so there is no reason why a child should go without in the United States.

I posses many skills that will contribute to my advocacy work.  The first is the ability to be patient followed by my determination.  I also have a need for knowledge and change.

I hope to grow to to become a more effect advocate by gaining a better appreciation for research and its process.  I currently hate researching so I hope to gain more knowledge and appreciation for it.