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