Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Over the next eight weeks, I have been asked to broaden my perspective about the resources available in the early childhood field, as well as evaluate early childhood trends and issues both in the United States and in other countries. 

This week, I have tried to establish contacts with early childhood professionals who work with organizations in other countries:

UNICEF: I sent an email requesting contact information regarding current issues and trends in the early childhood field.  I have received an automated email replay stating that the request has been sent to a person working in this field of interest and I am waiting to hear from that person.

Spain: World Association of Early Childhood Educators.

The contact, Juan Sanchez’s personal email came back as unable to send, however, I am still waiting to hear back from the contact request I made through the organization’s website.

Haiti: Step By Step Program/Tipa Tipa

I am still waiting to hear back from an email I sent to Dominique Hudicourt, the representative of this program.

Romania

I have established contact with early childhood professional, Theresa Creel, who

has worked with different advocate organizations on behalf of Romanian children over the past 17 years.  Ms. Creel primarily works with the Institute for Human Dignity, which supports children’s rights and provides charity for children living in poverty in Romania. Ms. Creel also works with Jesus the Hope of Romania, which advocates for educational aspects for children in poverty, children with AIDS, orphaned children, disabled children, and support of higher quality education for children in poverty. She has worked a little with Casa Minuanta (Oradea, Romania), a school for disabled children, and now open to other children as well.  Additionally, Ms. Creel has lead and arranged for teams to build playgrounds, install bathrooms, and provide health education to a school in the poor village of Doclin, Romania. The school was originally built in 1776! She comments that they have, “Cute babies in that school!” I am very fortunate to have this amazing early childhood professional, and personal friend and mentor, as a contact to learn more about the current issues and trends in Romania.

I will also expand my early childhood resources by examining different early childhood organization’s websites:  I chose one in the United States, and one that has international connections:

National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies


http://www.naccrra.org/
 (Newsletter: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/ )

I chose to examine the Child Care Resource and Referral Website because I am the director of a child care center and felt that the information I could learn from this website would directly impact me professionally. Child Care Aware of America works “with more than 600 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to endure that families in every local community have access to quality, affordable child care.  To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake groundbreaking research, and advocate for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families” (naccrra.org, 2012).

I found this website helpful and look forward to examining these following resources that it offers:

*Online training for child care providers

*Recent reports and current trends related to the early childhood field

*Parent community information: becoming a child advocate, training, receive free e-newsletters

*Free webinars and trainings on early childhood topics.  One that was of great interest to me was the “Let’s Move! Child Care” campaign that presented information in promoting more physical activity and providing healthier food choices in early childhood

*Information about child care quality, school readiness, parent perspectives, child care demographics and cost in each state.

Association for Childhood Education International


http://acei.org/
 (online resources at: http://acei.org/knowledge/ )

I chose to review the ACEI website for international information on early childhood education issues and trends. 

The ACEI’s mission is:

“To promote and support the optimal education development, and well-being of children worldwide, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in changing society.  We have a consultative status with the United Nations” (acei.org)

*I loved the resource it provided on global news in the early childhood field

*I am also looking forward to examining more issues that are addressed in their website blog.  I quickly looked at this and found the following information very applicable to what we have already learned about in other courses:

According to ACEI: The Ten Pillars of a Good Childhood Include:

1.                   Safe and secure places for living, with learning and access to health care, clothing, and nutritious food

2.                   Strong families and loving, consistent caregivers

3.                   Social interactions and friendships

4.                   Creative play and physical activity

5.                   Appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment

6.                   Creative expression through music, dance, drama, and the other arts

7.                   Education that develops the full capacities of the child—cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and ethical

8.                   Supportive, nurturing, child-friendly communities

9.                   Growing independence and decision making

10.       Children and youth participating in community life.

http://acei.org/blog/entry/attacks-on-education-1.html

*ACEI also takes part in many early childhood initiatives – the current initiative is a global partnership with UNICEF and other major organizations on children with disabilities http://www.unicef.org/disabilities/index_65319.html