The Political Will To Improve Early Childhood Systems

One of the strategies that I have learned from advocates for early childhood that will influence the political will is reflected on the website 'Alliance for Early Success'. 'The Alliance for Early Success' is a catalyst for bringing state, national, and funding partners together to improve state policies for children, starting at birth and continuing through age eight. The Alliance for Early Success operates on (1) A Policy Framework; (2) Partnerships; (3) Resources; (4) and Grants. This advocacy program covers a wide variety of issues that affect quality early childhood programs. This organization reflects a high level of collaboration and networking among various stakeholders. Collaboration among stakeholders is very important. This will ensure that all involved are on the same page and eliminate wastage in areas of time, expertise and resources. All persons involved will also receive a true picture of how complex early their families. This organization is very good at providing feedback on how each sector is working and influencing the quality of the early childhood programs. The section of the work that appeals to me the most is the section that relates to resources. Resources often encompass research that leads to developing a framework that influences the policies that often reflect our early childhood system. Without proper information we cannot develop effective policies that will enhance the early childhood sector. Because early childhood is a very dynamic and complex field much attention should be paid to this section. Reference Birth to Five Policy Alliance. (2011). Retrieved from http://earlysuccess.org/

PARENT, FAMILY, and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

From reading about the different families and professional stories with regards to how HEAD START has impacted or changed various individuals you recognize how important it is for families to become involved in an early childhood system that meets their needs. These systems should reflect the family because the system is really a service to children and their families. What struck me most about these stories that I listened and read about were the parents especially the fathers want to have an input in their children’s lives especially from a very early stage. HEAD START formed the foundation to help parents to recognize their role as a parent. When you read these stories you realize how much impact early childhood has on children and their parents. It makes you feel encouraged and appreciated. I was very impressed with a father when he mentioned that the most important thing we can give to my children is time (Jorge Avendado, Father of the Year. As a mother and an early childhood professional I can compare myself to his story. So many times we believe that we can give children material wealth to make up for the time lost between parent and child but I have learned from early that it is so important to spend quality time with your child. Although money is very important we must go the extra mile to ensure that we listen and talk to our children. It is about developing a strong bond between parent and child. What I appreciate with HEAD START is the fact that they provide parenting classes. Avendado realized the importance of making time for his daughter and I know this has created positive results for both him and his daughter. As an early childhood professional I would definitely want to emulate this system in my home country. As an early childhood professional I have also garnered how much all strands in early childhood are interrelated and depend on each other.HEAD START is not just about recognizing problems with the parents and the children but they also spend time in devising strategies to deal with the issues such creating parenting workshops to deal with the everyday issues. Reference Jorge Avendano, Father of the Year at Davis/Morgan/Summit Head Start-Early Head Start, Kaysville, UT

Quality Programs For All Children

The general public in America seems to have varied opinions about quality early childhood education. In Jamaica there has been a lot of talk about quality early childhood education. Sorry to say that’s the most it really gets, that is, talk. Politicians especially use early childhood as a political platform, hoping to win votes from parents and other stakeholders for their next election. Because of the lack of knowledge early childhood is really treated unfairly. It is the first sector to receive a budget cut and many ignorant persons just believe that early childhood is not so important at all. Large sums of money is being spent on remedial programs and although the government has quality early childhood programs in their pipeline at the pace at which things are going I really don’t how much of a public opinion will change in the next five years. For the next five years I am really hoping that the country will get its act together with regards to quality early childhood programs. The government along with other stakeholders not only needs to understand the importance of investing in early childhood. By investing I mean paying early childhood practitioners, providing professional training and investing heavily in research that supports quality early childhood practices. If we don’t get our act together very soon we are going to continue going down the rough and winding road. We will continue to see significant increase in crime, increase in social issues and poor economic gains. We will continue to feed people and not teach them how to feed themselves. My dream for the next five years is to see resources being pumped into the early childhood programs so that every citizen will be afforded the opportunity to fend for themselves and realize that poverty is only a state of mind.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS: 6765

What Resonates With You About Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy? Early Childhood Systems. For most of my years in the career field I always find myself advocating for something. My love for early childhood began when I started having children but my passion intensified when I landed a job with the Early Childhood Commission as an early childhood inspector. My eyes were opened to a myriad of things within the early childhood. There are so many issues and challenges. I believe advocacy is the way to go to help with dealing with these issues and challenges. My first career love was law but unfortunately I was not afforded the opportunity to explore this field. I believe early childhood advocacy is the closest to thing to law. I don’t think we have enough persons in Jamaica who are advocating for changes in the early childhood field. Advocacy for the demands passion but you must also be knowledgeable. Advocates are so crucial in the field of early childhood. To become a skilled advocate you must be properly informed. Like any other career or profession we need to be armed with the knowledge to help to create positive changes. Early childhood is foundation to almost everything that we do. Can you imagine if we had an untrained dentist in our mouths are a surgeon who has absolutely no idea about surgery. Well early childhood is just as important as any other profession. I hope to learn how to become a skillful advocate. Anything that has to do with change is not easily accomplished, especially when culture forms the framework upon which persons live their lives. Three goals I hope to accomplish at the end of the course is 1) How to initiate changes that will impact the early childhood field. 2) To become a skillful advocate. 3) To promote awareness for early childhood and educate various stakeholders on the importance of having the right start at the early childhood level.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO END

Hi Colleagues, I must say time surely flies. We are at the end of another course and this one has been very intense. Communication is so embedded in relationships. Although we do not have face to face to contact I believe I konw so much about each of my classmates. I just want to take this time to thank all of you for contributing so much to communications journey. Without your insightful comments and your valid contributions I would not have made it. All the best to every one and we are almost at the end of the master's journey. Judy

ADJOURNING

This week we are asked to speak about the adjourning process with regards to team work. The adjourning is the fifth stage in the five stages of team building and signifies the end of the project (Abudi, 2010). To me the adjourning stage can either be very hard or easy for the team the team. It all depends on what the relationship was like among the team members. When I was a teenager I use to attend church camps. We were placed in dorms and competing houses for the duration. During the camp week we build relationships among persons in the houses and the dorms. We hand to bond to win competitions and excel in different areas of the camp life. It was very difficult for us to say good bye at the end of the week but we exchanged numbers and addresses and did our best to stay in touch with each other. Even though I might not be attached to my fellow colleagues in the Master’s program I know I am going to miss the discussions and blogs. Although I have no physical attachment I believe I have connected in some way to my classmates. There is so much I have learned from all the persons in my class and I know I will go through the adjourning process when this program is completed. Reference Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

Dealing With Conflict-What Would You Do?

Conflict happens every day in our lives. Whether it be at school, in the workplace or at home we are going to experience some amount of conflict. I believe my job and my life are surrounded with conflict because of the nature of my job and the some decisions that I have made in life. My father who is terminally ill with cancer is not able to take care of himself any more but unfortunately my mother and the nurse aid does not seem to see eye to eye on how to take care of him. My mother believes she knows what she is doing and unfortunately she is not right at all times. I often find myself standing in the middle of the conflicting arguments and acting as a mediator. I find this very stressful at times because I have to leave what I am doing and journey to St. Elizabeth to ensure that the nurse does not leave the job because this would definitely make the situation worse for me. My teenage daughter and her father sometimes end up having conflicts because I find that they just do not take the time out to listen to each other. Again, I find myself playing mediator. I have learned to deal with conflicting situations throughout my life. Often I wait until the dust has settled and then approach the persons involved in the conflicts. Some of the strategies that I have used is to listen carefully to the persons involved, speak kind words and softly, smile, hug, distract the person with some physical activity such as exercise. I tend to do this with my daughter. When I am exercising I ask her to join me and then I seize the moment to talk to her about the conflicts. I also distract my husband by showing interest in his work, talking to him on a one on one basis. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the different situations but I speak to myself and ask myself questions such as “Judy if you were in this situation how would you be wanted to treated? I try not to undermine the parties involved but to initiate respect at all levels. I have also had conflicts especially in the work place because the job involves some amount of team work and sometimes persons just do not do their share of the work which impacts on our targets. I have had to take blame for persons for their lack of participation and just for a quiet life I sometimes have to apologize for things that I am not guilty of. I strongly believe that violence does not solve any problem. I believe in the scripture that is takes from the Bible in the book of Proverbs chapter 15 vs 1: “Soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger.”