Time Well Spent

Enjoyed the skills, techniques, and the experiences which were share by all during this course of: EDUC 6990 Practical Application in Early Childhood at Walden University. I want to take this time to thank my instructor Dr. Johnna Darragh-Ernst for being fair, and pushing me to do better.  I would also like to take this time to thank all of my colleagues who took the time and poured into my life as a professional in the Early Childhood field. 

Three things I desire to share with my colleagues which have made a great impact in my life as a professional: Change has to begin with me to be effective in my field of study, resources are available for my professional from all around the world and my eyes are open to tools which can make a difference, to become effective in my field I need to open up to new developing things. As we change together we can make a large impact.

My long term goal is to become the Flight Chief of a large group of military Early Childhood & Youth Programs state side or overseas.

My family is the needful thing so I am sharing my Strong family photo.  Some of my sweet things about children:

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.  ~Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory  (thanks Harold)

What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen.  ~Cynthia Ozick

All any child needs is the protection of loving parents and an alternative source of information.  ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

 

You may contact me from my blog or Sandra_y_strong@yahoo.com, please feel free to stay in contact even if it to say hello, and I pray you enjoy what you have been given during this course.  My blog;  http://sstrong82learningtoteachothers.blogspot.com/

Maryam Brown blog; http://myearlychildhoodstudies.wordpress.com/

Catherine McGhee blog;  http://headstarttecher123.blogspot.com

 

References

 

Feinberg, J. (2011). Wordle. Retrieved from Oct 21, 2013,  http://www.wordle.net/

Children Quotes, Sayings about Kids - Quote Garden

 

www.quotegarden.com/children.html  Retrieved from Oct 21, 2013

 

Jun 30, 2012 · Quotations about children, from The Quote Garden. ... A little girl

 

is sugar and spice and everything nice - especially when she's taking a nap.

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community

         

UNICEF is a very outstanding group because of the commitment to the rights, and well-being of children. They offer and deal with nutrition, intervention, child survival, exploitation of children, domestic violence, education of children and much more.  The job opportunities are great, but I was not able to go to the site, but some of the jobs I would like to do for them are ; Child Protection Specialist, Partnership Manager, and Fundraising Manager (Regional), (UNICEF, 2011).

UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. We have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality.  That makes us unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young.

We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress.  UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.  We believe that we can, together, advance the cause of humanity.

We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future (UNICEF, 2011).

UNICEF's mission statement

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behavior towards children.

UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.

UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families.

 

Internship Programme

Overview

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers eligible/qualified students at both Headquarters and country offices the opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff.
Eligibility requirements
- You need to be a currently-enrolled graduate or post-graduate student in a field related to UNICEF’s interests. You must be enrolled during the full duration of the proposed internship period.  At this time we do not accept undergraduates. 
- You should be fluent in English and one other UNICEF working language i.e. French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese. 
- Your academic performance should be excellent, as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
- Your application for an internship should be supported by your university or related institution. A minimum requirement is a letter from one of your professors supporting your application. This is only needed when an internship assignment has been offered to you.
- Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in the field of international development, particularly in areas of UNICEF priorities.
- Ability to adapt and work in a multi-cultural setting.
- Has strong commitment to the values and principles of the United Nations and UNICEF's mission, guiding principles and Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Additional consideration will be given for any past work experiences.

However, please keep in mind that even if you meet these qualifications, there is no guarantee of placement. We receive many more applications from qualified candidates than we can place. Placement is subject to availability of meaningful assignments.

If you meet the above eligibility criteria and are interested in submitting an online application, please click HERE. Manually completed applications are not accepted anymore.

The completed online application will be automatically uploaded into the UNICEF Internship database, which is accessed by UNICEF managers globally. If you are applying for more than one location, the online application will allow you to choose the New York Headquarters location as well as up to three other field locations outside New York.

Due to the high number of applications received in UNICEF, we will not be able to respond to each and every application. When you complete the online application, which requires your CV and P-11 (to download a P-11, click HERE) as attachments,  you will receive an acknowledgement email with a copy of the online application form you submitted attached to it.

For queries and questions, please send an-mail to UNICEF at Internships@unicef.org.

 

 

 

 

My second organization is Save the Children; they do some of the same things as UNICEF.  All of the groups I enjoy have a large humanitarian response for children.  They also have different jobs around the world in Nutrition, Information Services, and Resource Development.

Who We Are (Save the Children)

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organization for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives (Save the Children, 2011). My third organization is Academy for Educational Development, and it Focus on Education: To improve education globally we must end child marriage In a guest post for the Interagency Youth Working Group, an author from Girls not Brides explains why we must end child marriage to improve education. Mission To improve lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions for human development. We believe A 360-degree perspective is required to address complex human development needs. Sustainability comes from building the capacity of individuals, communities and countries to address their needs. The key to improving lives is in generating, sharing and applying knowledge. Partnering with governments, civil society organizations, the private sector and communities leads to success. Our values Innovation to meet the evolving needs of our beneficiaries, funders and partners. Mutual respect for diversity and cultural differences. Passion driven by a personal commitment to make a positive difference. Accountability for our work, measuring, reporting and continually improving all that we do. Commitment to excellence assured by the highest ethical, quality, operational performance and scientific standards. Teamwork across disciplines and geographies, within the organization and with our partners. I love the fact they deal with internships, capacity building, data analysis, and much more like the other two groups I have chosen.  There is a great opportunity for anyone who desires to make a difference in children as well as families lives can in the right partnership. The internship are very important in all of these groups, and the programs for them are reachable. Experiences, and higher education is key to making a differences in children as well as families lives.

 

Reference

Academy for Educational Development. (2011). Retrieved from

http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm

 

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved on October 11, 2013

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

 

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2013, from

http://www.unicef.org/

 

JOBS/ROLES

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

As an assistant director for the Air Force, as well as Navy and Marine Corp, I have worked for three branches of the military.  Two of my positions were overseas where children and families came first, and I worked myself out of the classroom as I continued my education. From the assistant in the classroom, to the teacher in every age group: Infants, Pre-toddlers, Toddlers, and Preschooler. I was the clerk, Program Tech. over the Preschool program, and once I have finished my B.S. Degree I became the Assistant Director for the Navy in Philadelphia for two years, and begin the Master Degree program at Walden University. At the end of 2012 I was chosen for the Air Force Assistant Director here in Altus, Oklahoma, and my first experiences were overseas in Japan working for Marine Corp, and Air Force.  This is my Federal experiences overseas in Japan, and there are other jobs like; Trainers, Directors, Assistant Directors, Family Readiness Officer, Youth Programs Leads (Tech), Youth Directors, Program Assistants, Cooks, Food Service workers, Clerks, Flight Chief, and Housekeepers which are all federal position all over the world.  The opportunity I would love to achieve will be Flight Chief and because of my skill set as well as this degree I will succeed, I will meet the requirements for the position.

Kelly Services offer jobs in the early childhood field also, and they are all around the world. They offer positions for teachers, directors, and helpers in the classroom, and so many more jobs.

Navy CYP Goals & Philosophy

Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) provide high quality educational and programs for children and youth. Teams of caring, knowledgeable professionals plan developmentally appropriate programs that are responsive to the unique needs, ability and interests of children.  Our staff fosters a sense of independence, trust and responsibility within each child through understanding and respectful interaction.  Likewise, through positive relationships, our programs respect and youth.  We are advocates for children, families, and the child and youth professionals within our programs and surrounding communities.

 

MCCS; We are thrilled that you are contemplating employment with our organization, the most outstanding organization of its kind in the Department of Defense (DOD). If you are a highly motivated individual that would like the opportunity to provide an invaluable service to Marines and their families then MCCS is the organization for you!! We serve Marine Corps Installations all over the world and are in need of dedicated customer service orientated individuals who are willing to serve a great cause by providing support through mission, career, and life events.

Position/Grade FAMILY READINESS OFFICER (FRO LTCOL CMD LEV) NF4 - 1ST BATTALION, 11TH MARINES Location 1ST BATTALION, 11TH MARINES Open Date SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 Type of Appointment FULL TIME Close Date OCTOBER 10, 2013 Who May Apply ALL SOURCES Salary $44,000 - $49,000 Hours of Operation 0730 - 1630 Monday - Friday (may require occasional nights and weekends) [ ] Health Card Required [X] Background Check Required [ ] Gun Control [ ] Drug Testing Position (DTP)   [X] Valid Driver’s License Required       Qualifications   Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred, and two years related military family life experience, demonstrating a high degree of interpersonal communication and the skill set to adapt and respond to diverse situations unique to the military lifestyle. Demonstrated skill to: serve as a representative to provide command Family Readiness outreach, support and assistance to the Command’s military personnel and their families, exercise sound judgment and initiative in carrying out responsibilities. Ability to resolve situations as they arise, work with wide latitude for independent action to ensure overall program effectiveness, soundness of recommendations and effective use of resources. Skills to assign tasks to volunteers and supervise them in the accomplishment of those tasks. Skills to maintain personal contacts and collaborate within the Command. Must possess a basic level of knowledge of Marine Corps philosophies, policies, military lifestyle and organizational structure with a clear understanding of the role of the Unit Family Readiness Program. Must have the ability to use Microsoft Office software, suites, and web based applications, and creating, maintaining, and manipulating databases. Must possess and demonstrate sound communication skills (oral and written), presentation skills, interpersonal skills, and social poise. Must possess coalition building skills and sufficient experience to exercise discretion to refer families when appropriate. Must be detail-oriented, organized and adaptable. A positive attitude is essential. Ability to establish realistic long and short term goals and objectives, set achievable deadlines and react quickly to changing priorities. Must possess strong customer services skills and be able to tactfully communicate with all levels of the Military and civilian community. Must have the ability to work independently. Must be able to accommodate a flexible work schedule to include weekend and night time hours. Must be able to travel as directed by the Commander. Must be able to obtain and retain a Secret clearance as required (based on location).     References

Kelly Services

http://www.findyourjob.net/v7/company?path=117&reset=1&search_keywords=Kelly+Services&s_source=Google&s_network=Search&s_kw=%2Bkelly+services+jobs&s_ad=27314285831&split_id=3178

http://navymwr.org/

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/careers/

http://www.usajobs.gov/

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/careers/#.UkeaXXbn9Ow

 

 

 

Others In Early Childhood

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

 

Local agencies are: Early Childhood Education Schools in Oklahoma : OK Colleges, you could teach in their early childhood program if you have your Master degree in education. The offer workshops, training, and will come to your program to share any new information in the field it time permits.

(DHS) Department of Human Services, which train Foster parent for children in foster care program, train parents who have lost custody of their children, adoption, child welfare, and remove children who have been abused. These are just some of the task this organization carries out on a daily basis.

http://okdhs.org/

In the state of Oklahoma we have the Early Childhood of Oklahoma; www.ecak.org this group offers conference, and they have a accreditation committee which can approval your programs for accreditation. They offer other links that support children programs such as: www.naeyc.org, www.southernearlychildhood.org, www.cdacoucil.org, just to share a few. They are also offering a serives of events designed to increase awareness and stimulate conversations about the value of diversity. They offer luncheon’s, and chapter function around the state of Oklahoma.

 ECAO is pleased to offer the following as state chapter affiliates for our members to join:

Ada Area Early Childhood Association

Metro Area Early Childhood Association

Mid-Del Early Childhood Association

Red River Early Childhood Association

Tulsa Early Childhood Association

Weastern Early Childhood Association

Wheat Capital Early Childhood Association

 

 

Australian Early Childhood has come a long way

Early childhood education in Australia has been a rapidly growing part of the education sector for the past two decades and, while complex and often controversial, has, until very recently, generated limited discussion in mainstream educational policy arenas and relatively little investment in research and development. Most sector growth and investment has been in

services and fee subsidies to provide care for young children while their parents work. There has been less focus on developmental issues and outcomes for children, little emphasis on strengthening early development and education components in child care, and a widening gulf between preschool and kindergarten programs and childcare programs for children in the year or so before school

Almost all child care centres in Australia are privately operated, either by not-for-profit community groups or by for-profit commercial businesses. There are few free public early childhood services of any type. In fact, fees were paid on behalf of 92% of children who used any formal early childhood service in 2002 (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2003a, p. 5).

 

Lighthouse International's Early Intervention Program is dedicated to helping children with visual impairments and/or developmental delays from birth to three years of age. The site offers

Our professionals foster learning and the development of critical early childhood skills through the following high-quality services.

·         Service Coordination

·         Multidisciplinary Evaluations

·         Functional Vision Assessment

·         Vision Service

·         Orientation & Mobility

·         Physical Therapy

·         Occupational Therapy

·         Speech Therapy

·         Social Work Service

·         Special Instruction

·         Family Training

·         Nutrition Service

These are a few things Lighthouse International offer .

Call the New York State Department of Health at (800) 522-5006 to be authorized to receive services for Lighthouse International's Early Intervention Program.

For questions about our Early Intervention Program, email kkim@lighthouse.org.

After looking at some of our state agencies I truly say we all have come along way in the Early Childhood field and we all should continue to do our very best as we use communities of practices around the world. We have to opportunity to be a part of their program for children too, we just have to be willing, are you willing? There are many opportunities of careers in each one of my site, and this is yet a growing field for growth as professional in education.

Reference

Australian Education Review

http://research.acer.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=aer

Early Childhood Education Schools in Oklahoma : OK Colleges ...

www.unixl.com/dir/early-childhood-education/oklahoma/‎

 

Lighthouse International - Early Intervention

www.lighthouse.org/services-and-assistance/early-intervention

 

Oklahoma ECE

www.ecaok.org