National and Federal Early Childhood Organizations

This week I researched websites of national/federal organizations that advocate for children and families. I really enjoyed this assignment because it opened my eyes even more to the amazing options I have as I advocate and strive for social change. They also had amazing job opportunities that help me realize other avenues of how I and others can work/volunteer in the early childhood field. The top three that I want to share are the WESTED organization (www.wested.org), The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) (www.dec-sped.org), and the Center for Child Care Workforce (www.ccw.org).

The WESTED website was very interesting to me because it puts a lot of its effort into researching education practices and child development. Their mission is to work with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. They have been around since 1966 and positively impacted millions of children and their families. They also work towards raising the wages of early childhood practitioners which is a passion of mine. They have one department dedicated to the infant and toddler field. I plan on using this website as a resource as I mentor and train infant and toddler teachers during their professional development. Some of the positions they have currently opened are research assistant and research associates. The positions requires applicants to have experience in one or more of the following work environments: educational research, assessment development or management, educational policy, program evaluation, K-12 teaching or administration, or a state education agency, demonstrate knowledge of research principles (qualitative and quantitative), have excellent communication and writing skills, experience writing proposals and research and technical reports, and excellent time management and organizational skills  . If I do get into the research area of early childhood, this organization is one that I would consider looking into. Another position that interested me is the Infant/Toddler Specialist. I currently am an infant/toddler specialist at my local community college. The requirements are a bachelors or masters (preferred) degree and experience working as an infant/toddler teacher.

The Division of Early Childhood website is a great resource for EC professionals. They promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. They are currently hiring teaching assistants to help teach child development. The requirements are some experience in child development and a GED. It is a great position for people starting out or trying to build their resume. Another open position is for a Child Development Instructor. You must have a Master's degree in Child Development (CD); Early Childhood Education (ECE); Educational Psychology with a specialization in CD/ECE; Home Economics/Family and Consumer Studies with a specialization in CD/ECE; or Human Development; or a Bachelor's degree in any of the majors listed above and a Master's degree in Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Educational Supervision, Elementary Education, Family and Consumer Studies, Family Life Studies, Life Management/Home Economics, Psychology, Social Work, or Special Education. They are based in California so you also have to be certified to teach in that state.

The Center for Child Care Workforce (CCW) advocates to improve the quality of early care and education for all children by promoting policy, research and organizing that ensure the early care and education workforce is well-educated, receives better compensation and a voice in their workplace. One thing I really like with them, which I did, is that you can join their network by sending an email to ccw@aft.org  and ask to be added to their “listserve”. From here, you will receive information and analysis on relevant research, policy and organizing efforts that support or impede improvements in early care and education employment conditions. They have many avenues and strategies set up for higher wages that they work to include in every state. Some of these include the unionization of early childhood educators, wage incentives, scholarship programs, tiered wage options, and mentoring programs. I could not find a page listing any open positions. This is a resource I plan to use a lot as I mentor teachers. It offers a lot of motivation and hope for those who want to advocate and develop professionally. 

My Local Organizations

There are many agencies and organizations within my community and state that serve children and families. For this blog post, I am going to share three of them and state how I can play a role for each. There are so many roles, positions, and paths us EC professionals can take on in our efforts to advocate for and serve families in our community. This fact is exciting for me.

The first organization I want to share is my local Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). Their mission is to make sure that families and children’s have all their needs met. They have many items they give for free including diapers, clothes, and food. Parents can get all the information they need about local child care centers and daycare homes, including if they are licensed and/or accredited. They have disaster and emergency services for families who have just lost their home or jobs. There are many current job opportunities. They are hiring social workers, case workers, and financial assistance workers. Most of these positions require a degree of some sort and at least 3 years of experience in the related field. Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday announced the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services Division(DHR) has been selected to receive an Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership (EHSCCP) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services totaling $8.3 million per year for five years. This is very exciting for our state and I have am so glad that I can be a part of how these services get to where they need to go—young children and families.

Another agency in my state is the Parenting Assistance Line (PAL). The Parenting Assistance Line (PAL) is a collaborative service of the University of Alabama Child Development Resources and the Alabama Children's Trust Fund. It is available for any parent or caregiver who is in need of support, advice, or just to talk with someone who will listen. Parents can get resources for anything they need whether it is counseling services in their area, books to read with their children, or a confidence boost. I refer PAL to all parents and caregivers who ask me for resources. The number to call is 866-962-3030 and they are available 8am-8pm Monday through Friday. They have a few positions open for a Parent Assistance Specialist. They require you have at least 2 years of experience in a childhood field and training is provided.

I also like the local Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). They aim to help prevent and control disease and decreases health issues for residents of Alabama. They provide free supplies and food to families in need, as well as professional services to help people no matter their socio-economic status or health issues. This is a wonderful resource for parents who need help with children with special needs or for parents who have special needs themselves. They are currently hiring Public Health Educators to develop and coordinate public health education programs all over the state. The pay is anywhere from $31,000-$59,000. A bachelor’s degree in an education field is required with preference to experience in a health field. I have a second passion for healthy eating and natural living. I make my own soaps, cleaners, lotions, ect, and eat as raw as I can in the hopes of being disease and sick free. I share my handmade supplies with others so that they can be healthier as well. This is a great organization that reaches ou to many people.