Jobs Roles in the ECE Community:  Internationally

         This week I explored the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) website.  I chose this website because the association is concerned with quality care for children and advocates for equal access to education for all children (International Step By Step Association, n.d.).  The approach ISSA implements for early childhood development are based on allowing children to make choices with an emphasis on peer interaction.  ISSA reaches out to those for which quality childcare is not available.  A very attractive service offered by ISSA is to train adults in parenting skills, which coincides with my Capstone Project (International Step By Step Association, n.d.).  ISSO has many resources available to members; however I was not able to locate employment availability.

         Next I explored the Save the Children website.  I was encouraged to learn the tremendous work this organization performs globally.  Save the Children helps communities to reorganize and rebuild after tragedy strikes.  This organization also concentrates on providing assistance to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early years of their babies’ lives (Save the Children, 2013).  The organization seeks health care workers on a global basis to assist in decreasing the number of deaths in children less than five years of age (Save the Children, 2013).  There are many opportunities for careers with Save the Children. I research a job opening in Washington D.C.: Information and Documentation Specialist, Education and Child Development, which is part of the International Program.  This job entails global marketing for early childhood programs as well as coordination and distribution of information.  Qualifications include the ability to write and edit as well as layout and publication (Save the Children, 2013). My educational and work experience meets the job requirements, but I have no experience publishing.  The website also highlighted 43 other job openings, six of which were related to child development and literacy.  The job I found most appealing because of the job responsibilities is Early Childhood Coordinator for the Early Steps to School Success Program located in West Virginia. This program utilizes home visiting to address developmental activities, health issues, and parenting skills from birth to age five to ensure a smooth transition when children enter school (Save the Children, 2013).  I am qualifies for this position, especially based on my educational background and social work experience that involved home visiting as well as working with a variety of government agencies.  The successful applicant must live in the community which would entail relocating.

         I also explored the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) website because my communication partner from a previous class shared with me the many contributions UNICEF made to his county of Benin, Africa, such as installing indoor plumbing (Claudio, 2011). UNICEF, a global organization, works for the betterment of children and carries out the philosophy of helping all children develop to their fullest capability.  A main goal of UNICEF is to improve the living condition and lives of those living in poverty (United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), n.d.).  The website featured a temporary appointment for an Education Specialist (Emergencies) in Bamako, Mali.  Qualifications include knowledge of and experience in complex emergencies.  I do not have that knowledge or experience.  Although I retrieved this information from the website on February 15, 2013 I do not know how current it is since the dead line to apply expired. 

         Reflecting on the various websites and job openings I explored, the most appealing job is the Early Childhood Coordinator position offered by Save the Children.  I am regretful that a move to West Virginia would take me further away from my children and family.  I am encouraged by the wonderful work accomplished by every organization and am hopeful a position with Save the Children will become available in closer proximity to my present location.    

References

Claudio. (2011). Retrieved from personal e-mail

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2013, from http://www.issa.nl/program_early_child.html

Save the Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2013, from http://www.unicef.org/

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

         I reviewed many Federal websites as well as state and local sites to determine the scope of early childhood programs that include home visiting, parenting classes, and working with teen parents.  As I reflect, progress, and discover along the final trek of our Master’s program I am becoming more focused on combining my many years of experience in the social work field with my years of experience and education in the early childhood field.  A website I found most interesting was: www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2011/03/teen_mothers_get_help_staying that featured an article about an innovative program for teen parents. The article described a program at the Cohen Senior High School in Louisiana that is supported by an Early Head Start grant with the goal of assisting teen parents to complete high school.  The program makes use of a social worker that makes home visits, provides monetary assistance for child care, and conducts parenting classes. The website did not feature any job openings.

         The second website I reviewed based on my interest to incorporate my social work skills with ECE was Nurse Family Partnership – NFP found at:  http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/about/careers.  This is a National website that had two job openings posted; one with a home base at the NFP National Service Office in Denver, Colorado with travel to Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This position is a Program Developer that cultivates political and fiscal support for the program.  It involves work on the state, county, and city level.  Requirements include a Master’s Degree in Public Health and two to four years of experience in franchising organizations as well as an understanding of how state and local governments and funding agencies work.  Although this job sounds challenging, I do not possess the necessary qualifications.  The second position is for a Chief Operating Officer, Denver, CO.  Requirements for this position include experience as a senior manager with experience in sales, marketing, and IT.  Other positions posted were for nurses.  I believe the NFP program is a vitally needed program to support teen parents and ensure their babies receive the best parenting necessary to ensure their development.  I believe beginning work on a local level and aspiring to advance to employment on a National level is more realistic for me to consider.

         While I was researching NAEYC’s website at:  www.naeyc.org I discovered that a program within my home state of Pennsylvania holds the designation of an exemplary program.  The Montgomery County Community College Children’s Center in Blue Bell, PA provides child care and family support to a diverse clientele and maintains an anti-bias approach.  I find this program exciting because of the affiliation to a community college.  My original goal for pursuing a Master’s Degree was to teach at a community college and this type of child care center lends itself to blending teaching adults with providing child care.  The website did not post vacant positions.

        The Health and Human Services website at:  www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/programs/home-visiting, explored the Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) and Tribal MIECHV.  This program allows for partnership at the federal, state, tribal, and community levels.  The goals for this program include improving parenting skills and encourage home visiting.  Home visitors are nurses or social workers with the goal of helping families with all aspects of health, child development, and nutrition.  I am encouraged that social workers are included in this program and foresee the need to include more professionals from the early childhood field.

References

National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2013). Retrieved from www.naeyc.org

Nola.com, (2013).  Retrieved from www.nola.com/education

Nurse Family Partnership, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/about/careers

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (2013). Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov