One of the things I am planning to do is to become a child care trainer. National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Centers (NACCRRA) has several online trainings that would benefit me. Smart Horizons is an online training provider that offers courseware development by experienced Instructional Designers, custom offerings, Learning Management services and superior media design (www.naccra.org, 2012).
NACCRA posted an article about over crowed child cares. Beverly Greenagel was supervising 18 children -- six more than the law allowed -- on the day that Dane Ableidinger died in her care. She watched from her kitchen window as some of the kids hurled water balloons in the back yard. Her assistant, an untrained 12-year-old, played video games with other children in a downstairs room next to where Dane slept. Neither one saw the 3-month-old struggling to lift his head from the folded blanket on the floor where he had been placed on his stomach for a nap. An hour passed before the helper peeked in and saw the infant's face embedded in the flannel blanket. She rolled him on his side and screamed. "Oh, um," the panicked girl said in a 911 call. "There's a baby dead." (www.naccra.org, 2012). It is disturbing to me that licensed providers can get away with going over capacity and having untrained, not to mention way to young people, helping in their child care. In my past experiences I have seen situations like this and they are not caught because of under staffing due to budget cuts. What will it take for politicians to realize that early childhood education is an important part of raising a successful child and building our future?
NACCRA is a key player to help Resource and Referral Centers learn how to educate parents on what to look for in quality child care, as well as being a strong voice in politics. If you are not familiar with them I strongly recommend that you look at the website as well as getting to know your local Resource and Referral Center.
I hear more and more that Mom’s cannot work because of the cost of child care. I know in Maryland they are constantly cutting funds from child care subsidy for families that are struggling. On NACCRRA’s website I did not see anything about what economists and politicians are doing in Maryland to support early childhood education. I am a member of Maryland’s Public Policy Committee, which where I receive the information about financial cuts to child care.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Poverty Across the World
Over 600 million children world-wide live in absolute poverty - an estimated 1 in 4. In many countries, rates are much higher with over 60 percent of children living in households with incomes below international poverty lines. Over 10 million children under five still die every year from preventable diseases - the vast majority of them in developing countries. As one of the most powerless groups in society, children often bear the physical and emotional costs of poverty (Childhood Policy and Research Center, CHIP).
Since I still have not heard from the international contacts I reached out to I am doing the alternative assignment. I found the Childhood Policy and Research Centers website very interesting and informative. I was amazed to read that 600 million children live in poverty. I know poverty is a problem across many countries but did not realize the extent of it.
The country I chose to read and write about is China. Again, I was surprised to hear about the amount of children living in poverty. 4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions (Childhood Policy and Research Center, CHIP).
It frustrating that government’s across the world cut money from early childhood education.
The story that touched me the most was Nan Nan’s. “Fourteen-year-old Nan Nan moved to Hefei, the capital of China’s Anhui province, a year ago. She used to live and go to school in a rural part of Anhui, and is finding life in her new school difficult: “I do not like studying at the school in Hefei, I have no friends here, and all my friends are now in Shucheng. I am regarded as a rural farmer child. My schoolmates always laugh at me because of my rural accent. I am two years older than the kids in my class, who say I must be stupid because I cannot go into a higher grade with kids my own age. The teachers do not care much about me. I always wish I could go back to Shucheng, but my mum and dad told me that if I study at the school in Hefei, I will receive better teaching and get good grades, and that I can then have a better life in the future” (Childhood Policy and Research Center, CHIP).
I can respect where she is coming from. I have never felt comfortable in several educational situations, and I still feel that way. Self Esteem is very important to building children’s self-worth. From what I read about Nan-Nan she seemed to be going through the same thing. I am also feeling that way in this course. I am not sure where to go from here…
Poverty is a big concern in the educational field, not just in the USA but across the world. It is an issue that law makers need to look at and take into consideration when they are making their laws.
References:
(http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/
Over 600 million children world-wide live in absolute poverty - an estimated 1 in 4. In many countries, rates are much higher with over 60 percent of children living in households with incomes below international poverty lines. Over 10 million children under five still die every year from preventable diseases - the vast majority of them in developing countries. As one of the most powerless groups in society, children often bear the physical and emotional costs of poverty (Childhood Policy and Research Center, CHIP).
Since I still have not heard from the international contacts I reached out to I am doing the alternative assignment. I found the Childhood Policy and Research Centers website very interesting and informative. I was amazed to read that 600 million children live in poverty. I know poverty is a problem across many countries but did not realize the extent of it.
The country I chose to read and write about is China. Again, I was surprised to hear about the amount of children living in poverty. 4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions (Childhood Policy and Research Center, CHIP).
It frustrating that government’s across the world cut money from early childhood education.
The story that touched me the most was Nan Nan’s. “Fourteen-year-old Nan Nan moved to Hefei, the capital of China’s Anhui province, a year ago. She used to live and go to school in a rural part of Anhui, and is finding life in her new school difficult: “I do not like studying at the school in Hefei, I have no friends here, and all my friends are now in Shucheng. I am regarded as a rural farmer child. My schoolmates always laugh at me because of my rural accent. I am two years older than the kids in my class, who say I must be stupid because I cannot go into a higher grade with kids my own age. The teachers do not care much about me. I always wish I could go back to Shucheng, but my mum and dad told me that if I study at the school in Hefei, I will receive better teaching and get good grades, and that I can then have a better life in the future” (Childhood Policy and Research Center, CHIP).
I can respect where she is coming from. I have never felt comfortable in several educational situations, and I still feel that way. Self Esteem is very important to building children’s self-worth. From what I read about Nan-Nan she seemed to be going through the same thing. I am also feeling that way in this course. I am not sure where to go from here…
Poverty is a big concern in the educational field, not just in the USA but across the world. It is an issue that law makers need to look at and take into consideration when they are making their laws.
References:
(http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sharing Resources:
The early childhood professional organization I chose to follow is The National Association of Resource and Referral Centers (NACCRRA). Their website is www.naccrra.org Their Vision and Mission Statements are:
Our Vision
A nation that supports the development and learning of all children.
Our Mission
To promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership, and support to community Child Care Resource and Referral.
NACCRRA's Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 ( 1.18 MB ) (NACCRRA.org).
Since I ran a Resource and Referral Center for 5 years in Maryland and almost a year in Washington D.C., I am familiar with NACCRRA and the policies the believe in and follow. With the start of this assignment I signed up to receive e-mail updates and their monthly newsletters.
The first e-mail update I got was titled “House to Consider Severe Budget Cuts Take Action! Funding to help children, the disabled, and the elderly at risk” (NACCRRA.org). I am not sure how to summarize it without referencing it so here is what is said:
“On Thursday, May 10, the House of Representatives will consider budget legislation that includes enormous budget cuts in programs designed to help low income families. With unemployment still at high levels and families struggling to make ends meet, the impact would not only be devastating for families but also further weaken the economy. The bill would eliminate Food Stamps for two million people and reduce Food Stamp benefits for 44 million. It would cut Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX, which helps states address the needs of abused and neglected children, as well as provide community-based care for elderly and disabled people so that they can remain in their homes longer than would otherwise be possible) (NACCRRA.org).
When will Government realize that cutting money from early childhood is not the way to improve this country? They are our future and if the resources are not there to give them a quality early childhood education healthy meals, and proper medical care, that will lead them to success in future years of school, how will we as a country (Not sure of the proper words here), achieve the high goals the government wants to see from out country and it’s future?
I am sorry if this seems harsh but after sitting on Maryland’s Public Policy Committee for 5 years I have seen what government has cut from early childhood education and the effects it has had on providers as well as the quality of education children are getting. The main reason I chose the Master’s Degree I did, Specialization in Public Policy and Advocacy, is to be a voice to change this trend and educate the importance of early childhood education.
Reference:
https://my.campuscruiser.com/em2PageServlet?cx=u&pg=papp&tg=Email-readmail&main=1&qi=I3FpCiNTYXQgTWF5IDEyIDIzOjUwOjM0IEVEVCAyMDEyCmZvbGRlcklkPTEwMDA4NjkwMTEKX3NvcnRCeT1yZWNlaXZlZERhdGUKX3NvcnRPcmRlcj0xCm1vZGU9bG9hZApzdGFydD0xMQo=&seq=18&msgId=1170744463
http://www.naccrra.org/about-us/our-vision-and-mission
The early childhood professional organization I chose to follow is The National Association of Resource and Referral Centers (NACCRRA). Their website is www.naccrra.org Their Vision and Mission Statements are:
Our Vision
A nation that supports the development and learning of all children.
Our Mission
To promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership, and support to community Child Care Resource and Referral.
NACCRRA's Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 ( 1.18 MB ) (NACCRRA.org).
Since I ran a Resource and Referral Center for 5 years in Maryland and almost a year in Washington D.C., I am familiar with NACCRRA and the policies the believe in and follow. With the start of this assignment I signed up to receive e-mail updates and their monthly newsletters.
The first e-mail update I got was titled “House to Consider Severe Budget Cuts Take Action! Funding to help children, the disabled, and the elderly at risk” (NACCRRA.org). I am not sure how to summarize it without referencing it so here is what is said:
“On Thursday, May 10, the House of Representatives will consider budget legislation that includes enormous budget cuts in programs designed to help low income families. With unemployment still at high levels and families struggling to make ends meet, the impact would not only be devastating for families but also further weaken the economy. The bill would eliminate Food Stamps for two million people and reduce Food Stamp benefits for 44 million. It would cut Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX, which helps states address the needs of abused and neglected children, as well as provide community-based care for elderly and disabled people so that they can remain in their homes longer than would otherwise be possible) (NACCRRA.org).
When will Government realize that cutting money from early childhood is not the way to improve this country? They are our future and if the resources are not there to give them a quality early childhood education healthy meals, and proper medical care, that will lead them to success in future years of school, how will we as a country (Not sure of the proper words here), achieve the high goals the government wants to see from out country and it’s future?
I am sorry if this seems harsh but after sitting on Maryland’s Public Policy Committee for 5 years I have seen what government has cut from early childhood education and the effects it has had on providers as well as the quality of education children are getting. The main reason I chose the Master’s Degree I did, Specialization in Public Policy and Advocacy, is to be a voice to change this trend and educate the importance of early childhood education.
Reference:
https://my.campuscruiser.com/em2PageServlet?cx=u&pg=papp&tg=Email-readmail&main=1&qi=I3FpCiNTYXQgTWF5IDEyIDIzOjUwOjM0IEVEVCAyMDEyCmZvbGRlcklkPTEwMDA4NjkwMTEKX3NvcnRCeT1yZWNlaXZlZERhdGUKX3NvcnRPcmRlcj0xCm1vZGU9bG9hZApzdGFydD0xMQo=&seq=18&msgId=1170744463
http://www.naccrra.org/about-us/our-vision-and-mission
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Global Connections
I have sent e-mails to arebimbo@yahoo.com in Nigeria and argi@argi.de In Germany and have not heard anything back from either one of them. I am very interested to earning about early childhood education in their countries. After watching The World Forum video I saw that all early childhood educators all have the same goals relating to children and early childhood education. World Forum on Early Care and Education:
Every two years 600 – 800 early childhood professionals from more than 80 countries
gather to share ideas on a wide range of issues impacting the delivery of
quality services for children and families (World Forum, 2011).
From what I heard it sounds like everyone that participated in the World Forum believes in the same philosophy of early childhood education, hands on learning! Educators across the World are willing to join together and work at making early childhood education practices universal.
The early childhood organization I chose to follow is The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Centers (NACCRRA). It is an organization that I am very familiar with since I ran Resource and Referral Centers in Maryland and Washington DC. Every State is required to have a least one Child Care Resource and Referral Center (CCRR&R) by federal law. CCR&R’s educate parents on what to look for in quality child care, provide training and technical assistance to licensed child care providers and help other people to become licensed.
NACCRRA is also very big positive influence in the local and federal political scene. I attended their National Conference last year in Washington DC and was surprised to learn the great differences in child care regulations in the country. Did you know hat 2 states still allow corporal punishment in licensed child care and several states do not require family child care homes to be licensed? I was shocked to hear this!
NACCRRA is pushing to have standard regulations in every state for licensed childcare; they are looking at 10 standard safety regulations. They are also trying to make it that all licensed child care professionals take 120 hours of training. They are a huge voice in National and local public policy and advocates for the early childhood profession.
If you are not familiar with your local Child Care Resource and Referral Center I highly recommend that you contact them and join NACCRRA. NACCRRA is a strong voice for early childhood education!
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