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

·      Three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appeal to me and why are:

1.     Zero To Three: a national nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals, and policy makers the tools and information needed to nurture early development (Zero To Three, n.d.).  Zero To Three’s mission is to ensure that all young children (babies and toddlers) have a strong start in life (Zero To Three, n.d.).  I chose this organization because of its support of families, professionals, and policy makers in that as an early childhood professional I believe that a strong start in life is key for all children whether at home or in school.

2.     The Center for Childcare Workforce: a national organization that strives to improve the quality of early care and education for all children through research and organizing that help ensure early childhood professionals are educated, receive better compensation, and have a voice in their workplace (CCW, n.d.).  I chose this organization because I have long believed that improvement in the quality and the importance/relevant ratio in society and community support begins with fair wages and educated professionals.  Something as simple as fair compensation would decrease the high turnover rate of early childhood educators providing program stability and there is nothing wrong with asking those professionals to have the education and or experience to have that compensation.  I feel that the early childhood field is still overcoming the babysitting stigma.

3.     The Children’s Defense Fund: a non-profit organization that has worked tirelessly to support policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from neglect and abuse, and ensure access to health care and quality education working at federal, state, and community levels across the United States (CDF, n.d.).  Their mission is to advocate for children paying particular attention to poor and/or minority children and those children with disabilities, educating the nation about the needs of children and the importance of preventative investments for children and families (CDF, n.d.).  I chose this organization because of its advocacy for children and families of all sorts to achieve their fullest potential.  I believe all children and families deserve equitable opportunities for potential outcomes.

·      Job opportunities I am interested in are:

1.     Child Development Director of Operations: Relating to families in difficult and unique circumstances, providing family support, ensuring best practices in the child development department, and providing quality child development services to children 0-5.

2.     Adult educator or professor: Teaching child development and/or diversity courses at a local community college or online.

3.     Early Childhood and/or Anti-bias/Diversity Consultant in Early Childhood helping programs to provide anti-bias program environments through training, modeling, and support.

4.     Family Engagement Facilitator: working with programs to support family engagement and participation.

·      All of the jobs I would like to pursue seem to have some degree of consulting.  I really like the idea of providing training, sharing what I have learned, and engaging parents in the education of their children.  I think I have adequate leadership skills, but excellent communication skills that would be beneficial in these types of positions.  This isn’t necessarily a skill, but I am also willing to consistently continue my education and professional growth in order to be efficient in knowing, providing, and ensuring the best possible information concerning early childhood.  Some other skills I posess that would be beneficial to any of these jobs is that I am persistent, consistent, a problem solver, and I am not afraid to ask for help!

References

CCW (n.d.). Center for the child care workforce. Retrieved September 28, 2013, from http://www.ccw.org/

CDF (n.d.). Children's Defense Fund (CDF) : Health Care Coverage for All of America's Children, Ending Child Poverty, Child Advocacy Programs. Retrieved September 28, 2013, from http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Zero To Three (n.d.). Zero to three: National center for infants, toddlers, and families. Retrieved September 28, 2013, from http://www.zerotothree.org/