Exploring Roles in the Early Childhood Education Community:  Local and State Levels

            While researching resources for early childhood organizations and agencies I came across a nationally based program that contributes to community based programs called “Parent-Child Home Program”.  “This is an evidence-based and research-related early childhood literacy and school readiness program.  Its goal is to strengthen families and prepare children for academic success through intensive home visiting, especially families who do not have access to educational opportunities to prepare their children to enter school ready to succeed (Parent-Child Home Program, 2013).  Families served by this program are low income from any background, location, and educational background.  Services are initiated and provided by partnering with local organizations, including school districts, social service agencies, and various community based programs (Parent-Child Home Program, 2013).  This program particularly interests me because it would enable me to combine and utilize my early childhood experience and education with my social work experience.  Additionally, this programs website provides valuable information that will assist me with my Capstone Project.  Job opportunities include being a state coordinator that oversees all aspects of the program, including starting the community based program, selecting appropriate curriculum materials, and all aspects of running the program.  I am qualified for this position based on my BS in Early Childhood Education and many years in the social work field.  There are no programs in the county or surrounding counties of my home state of Pennsylvania.

I explored two other websites of state operated programs.  The first was the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW).  The website outlined many programs DPW provides oversight to including The Mentor Parent Program, Inc., Early Intervention, and Parent to Parent of PA.  The Mentor Parent Program’s mission is “to provide assistance and training to parents and professionals to provide one-on-one mentoring and support, to provide information and appropriate referrals, to develop home-school partnerships, to foster parent involvement with the early intervention & education systems, and to develop community awareness of the needs of children with disabilities” (The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, 2013).  This program is interesting to me because its mission and one-on-one support to parents of children with disabilities is much needed and a very rewarding endeavor.  The Parent to Parent of PA program has an opening for a Regional Coordinator for the Northeastern region.   I am qualified for this position, however the starting salary is much less than my current position and the location is not within a reasonable travelling distance.  Other job opportunities  are provided through Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission. 

            The third website I explored was The Pennsylvania Department of Education.  This state agency includes Keystone Stars, PreK Counts, and works jointly with DPW to provide Early Intervention.  PA Pre-K Counts is designed for “children who are between age 3 and until the entry age for kindergarten; are at risk of school failure and living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal income poverty level (such as a family of four earning $67,050) who may also be English language learners or have special needs” (The Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2013).  I am interested in this program as well as Early Intervention because both programs provide children with necessary developmental skills needed to help them become successful when entering school.  Presently there are no job openings; however the civil service jobsite is frequently updated.  My current position is within the Pennsylvania Civil Service system which allows me to bid on jobs as they become available.   

References

Parent-Child Home Program, (2013). Parent-Child Home Program’s National Center website. Retrieved from http://www.parent-child.org/

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, (2013).  The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare website. Retrieved from http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/forchildren/earlyinterventionservices/index.htm

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, (2013).  The Pennsylvania Department of Education website.  Retrieved from http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_education/7237