Saturday, March 16, 2013

Exploring Roles in ECE

"Communities of practice are groups of people who share a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly”                        (Wenger, 2006, para. 4).
Working with families and children, it is important to collaborate with communities of practice. These groups help gain resources and form relationships that benefit all involved. Some local/state agencies that appealed to me are:

Babies Can't Wait: Georgia's "statewide system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families" (Georgia Department of Public Health, n.d., para.1). This agency provides in home care for infant/toddlers up to three years of age. Resources and parenting is provided to the families. A service provider or service coordinator would be a job that would interest me. A bachelor or master's degree in Early Childhood is required.

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy: This "foundation strives to improve early childhood learning for every child regardless of income, race,  or religion, as any child is at-risk who cannot read" (Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, 2013, para 11). This foundation provides free books to children in participating counties. Some children do not have "child-friendly" books in the home and this program provides "child-friendly" books to all children in the home birth to five. I currently serve on the Community Action Team (CAT) in my community. Our team coordinates fundraisers so all children (birth to 5) in Jasper County receive free books. I would love to be a CAT coordinator. I do not know the skills needed for this profession, but believe a master's degree would be sufficient.

Head Start: I currently work for our local Head Start program, but I included this because of the great services provided by Head Start. Programs offer parenting courses, early literacy, health, nutrition  mental health and disability services (to name a few). I enjoy working for Head Start and hope to remain in my profession for many years. A would love to be an Assistant Director or Program Director one day. A college degree is necessary--good thing I'm continue my education! 

References:
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. (2013). Program overview. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://www.ferstfoundation.org/programoverview.htm.

Georgia Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Babies Can't Wait. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw/.

 Wenger, E. (2006).Communities of practice: A brief introduction. Retrieved March 13, 2013, from http://www.ewenger.com/theory/.

4 comments:

Kristen said...

We had two of our three roles the same. The Babies Can't Wait program in Georgia is the same as our First Steps program in Indiana. My daughter went through the early intervention program, and then I started working for them. I worked as a developmental therapist for 2 years. I like the role of developmental therapist because I was the one giving the education and therapy directly to the children and families. Does your early intervention have developmental therapists on board?

Ginny said...

The Ferst Foundations is like the one we have in Tennessee called "Books from Birth" Each child that is enrolled in this program receives a hard back book in the mail every month from 1 month to 5 years of age. That's twelve books a year. Our program is sponsered by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and when it began Phil Bredeson was still governor and helped promote the program. You are right many children do not have books in their home and as educators we know that one of the most important things a parent can do for their child is read to them. Books from Birth as information in the hospitals and schools and here and volunteers can find out more through the Chamber of Commerce in their city.
Head Start is a wonderful program and hopefully with the start of common core we are going to see some changes for the children permitted into these public programs. My biggest fear now is we are loosing them early when we don't have too.
Ginny

tiffany said...

I must say that I did not know that head start was that intense. I heard that they work with children who may be considered at risk and provide extra services to families that need it, but I did not know that they work with families to provide health and nutrition advice, or disability services. I may have to look more into this program. I had never thought of a career with them.

Janille said...

Rebekah,

Your challenge is similar to that of mine. I am exploring the inequity minority and at-risk children receive in the field of early childhood and how this biased teachings affect their literacy skills. Your resources gave me further direction and resources for my challenge. I always am enlightened by your posts. I wish you well.

Janille