Sharing Website Resources-Week 4

As I continue to navigate the Children’s Defense Fund website, I am provided more and more information about the way the organization has excelled to make a difference for children by being a voice for those who are not able to speak for themselves. 

Children's Defense Fund Organization

This week, I found in the research library section “The State of America’s Children 2014 Report”.  In this report you can find various sections that shares a 50 year history and current issues and trends such as the level of poverty, family structure, family income, health, nutrition, early childhood development, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and gun violence. 

As an advocate of early childhood, I found that majority of the children under 2 years old are of color and were poor during 2012 during a rapid brain development.  This is a serious matter that needs to be monitored and provided the necessary resources and tools to defend the cause of promoting a healthy environment that is stable and nurturing. 

It is important that the early childhood field be proactive and share the concerns that are needed to make a difference in the way programs are formed.  During the early years before 3 years old there needs to be programs and services available that promotes practices that enriches the developmental level from birth to school age.  The earlier a child is reached the better the child will be in the future.     In the section of early childhood of this website, I gained the insight that even though interventions have been proven to buffer the negative effects of poverty and provide lifelong benefits, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable children, still too few children benefit from receiving high-quality early childhood program support (Children’s Defense Fund, 2014). I like the fact that in the report, there is identification that we can, not we must, do better. Now is the time to take action, invest as suggested by early childhood professionals, economists, scientist, and politicians, leading to reducing risks and conflicts in the future.

 

Reference:

Children’s Defense Fund, (2014). The state of america’s children. http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/state-of-americas-children/

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

          During the first week I identified that I made professional contact with two people connected with the UNICEF Organization.  Because I have not had a response to my request to reach out to the original professionals, I decided to contact one of my military counterparts in Grafenwoehr Germany, who works with military families and children at a military base.  Her name is Valerie Griffin and she currently manages a military child development program.  She has been in Germany for over 5 years and has been able to learn about the current cultural society of the local nationals.

          My first contact with Valerie was through email and I let her know that I was currently enrolled at Walden University in the Early Childhood Master’s Program and I would like to enhance my knowledge through tapping into her experience and expertise in the area of trends and issues especially during her time in Europe.  She immediately responded that she would be glad to communicate with me at any time and would prefer to talk over the phone. For this week, I have asked Valerie to provide me information on the poverty rate in Europe and the impact on the children.

 


          During our conversation, Valerie enlightened me on how the German system continues to assist families in having a healthy and nurturing environment without the stigmatism of saying that families are on “welfare”.  By having high rates of taxation, families are provided support that meets the overall needs of the local national community and this is occurring even during a decline in the amount of funds being available. This was interesting to see that even after 20 years of being back in the US, this program is still in place to support those in need and to help families bond during the first 3 years of life as families with new born children are given the opportunity for one parent to stay home during the early years and receive funds to maintain their living.  Valerie let me know that even immigrants from other countries that are in Germany, are provided resources and employment opportunities after they complete the language courses that are required.

          How does this affect the military families while living in Europe? Well, we both agreed that even though the additional support that is provided in the US for low income families are limited while overseas, ( State Subsidy programs), the military does  provide financial support for families in need by reviewing their income and expenses and setting up a plan to help them meet their obligations as well as offering affordable child care and when applicable they are awarded additional child care benefits.  Housing is provided on post and utilities are included and additional allowances are provided to augment the out of country expenditures.  I enjoyed my time with Valerie and I look forward to a continued connection during this course and thereafter.

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

When I first looked at the Children Defense Fund website, www.childrendefense.org , I thought about how the United States has changed over the years.  We have gone from segregation to a nation of many colors which this program originally began to support the black community and now every child’s needs are being met through this program as there seems to still need to have programs in place that will speak out for those who are not able to voice their needs and concerns.

I like how the Children's Defense Fund has challenged the United States to raise its standards by improving policies and programs for children. Over the years, they have become known for careful research on children’s survival, protection and development in all racial and income groups and for independent analyses of how federal and state policies affect children, their families and their communities. This organization has let the public know how effectively their elected officials stand up for children.  

On this site you will find information on programs and campaigns, policy priorities, child research data and publications, how to take action, and how to support the work of this fine organization.  I was impressed with the programs that support children afterschool and during the summer as well youth leadership and development training.                                                                                                      

Also there are other organizations that are in partnership with Children Defense Fund (CDF) which allows the opportunity to educate the public on the children at risk are provided the necessary tools to improve the lives of all children and continues to be a strong advocate for all children, especially the children who need prevention due to their family status, culture, and those with disabilities.
 

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Part 1      
          This first week's blog course assignment of Issues and Trends of Early Childhood has been very interesting and help me to revisit the need to be resilient.  Part I provided me the opportunity to reach out to international professionals to help me enhance my knowledge of the issues and trends of young children who are in other parts of the world. 

          When I first began my search, I reviewed the links provided and it seemed that I was not able to connect.  I diligently kept trying and finally I was able to find a blog connection to one of the individuals, Madeleine Logan, a Communication Specialist, who is on a one year tour in the Central African Republic Ministry of Education in the city of Bangui, through the UNICEF organization.  My thoughts were that I  should find out about other countries that I had no knowledge about and this would be perfect. Madeleine had posted a blog about the need to provide school support by re-establishing educational resources.  She shared that since December 2012 due to the ongoing ethnic and religious fighting the number of children enrolled in school had diminished and there was a survey conducted that revealed 65% of the schools were closed.  There is a concern that without the re-start of education, children will not be properly educated.

          The second connection I made was with another UNICEF Organization in Cambodia, the point of contact is Phnom Penh via email.  I was  fascinated as I  read about the need to have safe water and basic sanitation so that children and families would not be in a position of being exposed to water borne diseases, I realized that this alone can be an interruption to the educational and developmental needs of the young children as well as impact the families as they try to provide with limitations of having a healthy environment.

          My initial connection to both, Madeleine and Phnom spelled out that I wanted to connect with them to discuss the issues and trends that are being faced in Bangui and Cambodia.  I wanted to find out how the young children and families are being affected and what is being done. I also let them know that I was a student in the Early Childhood Master's Program at Walden University and I that my goal is to be able to make a different in the lives of children, families, and those who are providing early childhood support and services.  If neither of my contacts respond, my alternative will be to access the Save the Children website because the two World Forum links were not accessible due the sites not being available.

Part 2

         As a Child Liaison Education Outreach Director for an early childhood at a  military installation, I chose to enhance my resources through following the Child Defense Organization, www.childrendefense.org. I felt that is would prompt me to be a better steward of my knowledge base skills as I continue to promote the need to be a strong advocate for all children especially military children as they transition more often that other children and often are not provided the right information that will allow them the resources to stay on target and reduce the fear that they will not be able to continue their educational goals as they move from one location to another. Just as we as individuals face changes, policies and procedures change and it is imperative that I be more diligent to be able to support families with the best information as possible.  I also look forward to reviewing site and receiving emails of the updates that CDF will provide to help me be a voice for children, and know how to address the issues that may affect children.