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

This week we are assigned to find 3 national/ federal childhood organization that appealed to us. I found the following:

First is National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC).  

 I read lots of research and monthly publications from this non-profit organization. They “promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research” (NAEYC, 2005a). Their core beliefs are: excellence and Innovation, transparency, reflection, equity and Opportunity, and collaborative relationships (NAEYC, 2005a). NAEYC dedicates to improve the quality programs for young children from birth through age 8 through conference, publications, professional development, advocate in public policy and etc. (NAEYC, 2005b).  They also have accreditation systems to support programs and institutions with a goal to improve the quality of early childhood education.  Additionally, they publish books, journals, articles and quarterly early childhood research publication with different current trends topics to diverse audience such as teachers, families, and practitioners. One of their publications Voices of Practitioners is authored by child development educators, teachers, practitioners, which makes the articles more realistic and practical to child development educators (NAEYC, 2005c). 

 One of their openings that is interested to me is Early Learning Systems Director, Quality Assessment and Assurance. The position is “responsible for managing all aspects of the accreditation assessment and assurance process  with attention to  high quality customer support, accreditation integrity, assessor support, and use of assessment data to drive quality improvement” (2005d). Lead the quality assessment team, oversees the systems, process and responding to incidents and complaints, manage and ensure the quality of the assesoors and etc.  The qualification includes bachelor’s degree, master’s degree a plus, minimum 3 years supervisory experience leading staff, contractors, ability to positively, motivate and engage staff and other stakeholders, of course with NAEYC accreditation preferred ( NAEYC, 2005d). I think with my over 4 years supervision experience, education background and the ability to influence my colleagues would qualified for this job. I am always interested to work on the quality assessment related job to help improve the quality of education in a different way. I believe that assessment helps us learn about our strengths and area to improve. Yet, I would like to learn more about NAEYC so that I could support the team to ensure the system and quality is developed appropriately and adhere to the NAEYC standards.

West Ed is a “nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency working with education and other communities throughout the United States and abroad” (West Ed, 2015a). Their focus is “on creating positive, innovative, and sustainable improvements in education and human development” (West Ed, 2013a). They also published books, articles and publications like NAEYC. Their area of services and focuse also have some similairity like NAEYC such as assessment, early childhood development and learning, English Language Leaner, literacy and etc. Yet, West Ed. also provide services and supports on content in health, safety & well-bing, science College & career, early childhood development & learning, English language learners, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), special education, and etc. (West Ed., 2015b). Each of these content provides variety of services, support systems and links to different research or articles related to different audience, such as teachers, students, leaders, etc. For example, in the Area of Work for Teachers & Leaders, one of their services is a Mathematic Seminar for K-12 teachers (West Ed, 2015c). They also have a service to partner with districts or school nationwide to “provide comprehensive transformation services aimed at achieving rapid and sustainable improvement in the face of the most far-reaching reform initiatives in the nation’s history” ( West Ed, 2015d).

Similar job posting that I am interested is the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Coordinator. This position “will coordinate the implementation of the Santa Clara County Quality Rating and Improvement System. The QRIS Coordinator will coordinate multiple stakeholders and programs to ensure that the QRIS system conforms to the requirements of California’s Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Grant” (West Ed, 2015e). Their qualifications included Bachelor Degree in ECE, experience with tools for measurement of CLASS, ERS family, familiar with QRIS and etc. I think I am qualified to this position as part of current job is to support teachers in the CLASS assessment and the Environment Rating tools.

            It is a nationwide organization supports low-income children from birth to five and their families. Their services and area of focusese include: mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5 ( Head Start, n.d.,a). Once the program become the grantee, Head Start will assess them through a monitoring system to ensure the quality of the program and monitor if they are compliance with the Head Start performance standards such as Environmental Health and Safety, Management Systems and Program Governance, fiscal Integrity, Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA), comprehensive Services and School Readiness, and  Teacher-Child Interactions ( Head Start, n.d., b). They also have assigned consultant to provide training and technical assistance to the programs and their teachers.  The office of Head Start also partner with various federal agencies in expanding the services, resources and funding available to programs and their local partners. For example, they partner with The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) partners on improving health and equity in health equity. One of the program is called Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, which is a program to support pregnant women to develop skills they need to raise children who are physically, socially and emotionally healthy and ready to learn (Head Start, n.d.c).
            One of the position that interested to me is the Assistant Director position. The duties include oversight and monitoring of Education, Health, and Disability/Mental Health program activities, Participate as a lead in annual Self-Assessment of HS/EHS program, Develop plans of utilization of community and Agency resources; initiate and maintain needed liaison with public and private agencies to Head Start families etc. I am qualified to the qualification of this position with at least 3 years management expeirnece in Head Start and a Bachelor’s Degree. I also think that this position would help me learn more about the behind the scene work, for instance, working closely with the Director to develop policies for the programs, budget and other critical management decision.

References 

Head Start (n.d.a). About Head Start. Retrieved from:  http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs

Head Start (n.d.b). Introduction to Monitoring. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/grants/monitoring/intro-to-monitoring.html

Head Start (n.d.c). called Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Retrieved from  http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/

NAEYC (2005a). Our Mission and Strategic Direction. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission

NAEYC (2005b). Home Page. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/

NAEYC (2005c). Voices of Practitioners. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/publications/vop

NAEYC (2005d). Job Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/about/jobs

West Ed (2015a). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/about-us/

West Ed (2015b). Area of Work. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/areas-of-work/

West Ed (2015c). Area of Work Teachers and Leaders. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/areas-of-work/teachers-leaders/services/

West Ed (2015d). A Comprehensive Approach to School and District Improvement. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/service/comprehensive-school-and-district-improvement-services/

West Ed (2015e). West Ed Position Announcement. Retrieved from http://careers.wested.org/cs/jp/view/hr_pos/4809

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

               San Francisco and California have lots of support communities and organizations provide free or affordable resources to children and families.

               As the name said it provides services to children from zero to five years old. Their mission is “To instill an enduring obligation in San Francisco residents and government to ensure the opportunity for optimal health and development for every child living in this county” (First 5 San Francisco)

With “commitment to support young children and their families from prenatal to five years of age through abundant opportunities to be healthy, learn, and grow. Children will reach their full potential. Families will be empowered and engaged civic partners in the work of the Commission” (First 5 San Francisco).

I love their program of Preschool For All which is a program to support high-quality of childcare. They provide trainings to families and early educators such as child development, environment changes, cultural diversity, dual language supports, inclusive practices etc….  Professional Development is always the best way to keep us up to date on the recent study and best practices to support children and families. Additionally, it is always another way we could network with other colleagues from other agency to learn about their strategies or tools to support children.

Unfortunately, there is no current job opening now.

Zero to Three – National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and families 

This organization has lots of great child development resources for families, educator, policies maker. One of their mission is to “provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development” (Zero to Three). They want to “to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life”. The web site is very easy to navigate and user friendly which make it less hassle for family. I like they have monthly issue on different current child development issue or trends. The web site develop in a few categories: Behavior & Development, Maltreatment, Care & Education, Public Policy and About Us. I love the behavior and development section focuses on research and strategies for families and educators to promote children’s well-being in a positive and encouragement way. They also have videos, which make it easier to understand. They have research on why play is important, importance of social-emotional development and topics that are the current hot topic in the field that I want to learn more about like challenging behaviors. 

They have some job openings around the states, but they are all in senior levels and one of the most interested to me is the Senior Training/ Technical Assistance (T/TA) Specialist. The responsibilities are “planning and providing diverse and multiple T/TA events, providing support and facilitation for the NCEHS-CCP T/TA component as outlined in the approved work plan, focusing particularly on  supporting  Implementation  Planners  and  Fiscal  Consultants”

It also requires strong knowledge of and experience with infants and toddlers, the Early Head Start program, child care program and system, including Family Child Care, the Child Care and Development Fund and the Head Start Program Performance Standards at states and local levels”. I do not think I am ready for this position as I am still learning about all these standards and policies. But I do have a strong organizational skills which is one of the job requirement! 

It is one of the organizations in San Francisco that I always look up for  training resources to support children with special needs. It is a PARENT-RUN non-profit organization. Its mission is “to ensure that families of children with any kind of disability or special health care need have the knowledge and support to make informed choices that enhance their children's development and well being. Through fostering partnership among families, professionals and the community our children can flourish” (Support for Families). 

They have their own quarterly newsletter. Training and workshops for families and educators. They also provide translations in Spanish and Chinese in all trainings and workshop upon request. They have a service call “ Volunteer Parent Mentor” which is family volunteers who are family members of children with special needs to help families to advocate for their child’s needs and help them with referral process to necessary services. They have partnerships with different clinics, child care centers, mental health department, communities support to support their clients. Their workshops and trainings are FREE!!  

They have a Family Resources Specialist opening now which I think I could qualify. It is a position to “Provide families of children with disabilities or special health care needs information, education and peer support on a phone line, at the drop-in center and in the community”. I believe I could qualify for this position as I have been teaching children with special needs, attending their IEP meeting, attended intensive training on support children with Special needs, I have the experience and resources to support the families in the referral process as well as strategies that they could use at home to support their child.

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             All these community provides helpful resources for families and educators with recent research to support the resources. I am so glad that my community have such supportive system for us!

Reference

First 5 San Francisco: http://www.first5sf.org/about/mission-and-vision

Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org/

Support for Families: http://www.supportforfamilies.org/aboutus.html

The Beginning of the course of "Practical Application in the Early Childhood Field"

Hello professor and colleagues,

So thankful to be part of the course with each one of you. I am looking forward to learn from you ! Here's my wordl. I believe everyone is different and has their strengths and needs, if you are passionate to your work, you will need to understand and respect everyone's difference.