Time Well Spent

The time spent completing my journey expanded my life in ways that I could never have forseen before I embarked on this persuit of knowledge. Where did the time go, and how did we get here so fast. As we move forward, one can’t help but to look back at how we’ve all changed, added new ideas, information, and concepts to explore and expand upon our thinking. Frederick Douglass once said "if there is no struggle, there is no progress," and I am sure that we can all attest to the validity of this statement, whether it was struggling to meet deadlines,  explore job opportunities, and or miss some social events to complete an assignment. As a result of the various challenges we have faced, we all have become stronger, more refined, and more intelligent versions of ourselves. 

My learning has been extended from this course through the ability to Analyze the  uses of communities of practice, and how to create one. I have observed how valuable the extentions of organizations, and people can be to any cause . I’ve learned to acknowledge and apply leadership characteristics within myself. In creating a stronger understanding of syles i’ve adapted to a few. Lastly I’ve learned to evaluate professional opportunities in the early childhood feild. We do not know what is available unless we explore realms that we are not use to being exposed too. I’ve found value in advocaing for myself in all aspects of life.

I was a first generation college student in my family, and now to have celebrated three others that have completed their undergraduate degrees because they saw it was nothing holding them back since seeing me complete secessfully. I’ve already challenged them to go a step further. A long term goal that I have is to obtain my doctorate degree and to find funding to cover my expenses. In the words of Alicia Keys, I always want to stay focused on who I am, even as I'm discovering who I am. 

It is pertinent that we hold fast to our support networks- Dr. Embree thank you for your unwavering patience, support and encouragement to see to it that I made it to this point, there were plently of times that I said I don’t think i’m going to make it, and then I’d open a message from you saying I’m so proud of your efforts, and to keep pushing. To my collegaues, I am so proud to have the honor of working alongside you all. The discussions, advice and questions were of extreme importance and value to me in creating, molding and one day implemeting my challenge. Best of luck to you all. 

Ebony O’neal 

oneal.ebony@gmail.com

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Joyful Heart Foundation

was established in 2004 from an outpour of fan mail to the character that plays Olivia Benson on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Mariska Hargitay wanted to make a difference with the information she received from survivors all over the world. with the intention of helping sexual assault survivors heal and reclaim a sense of joy in their lives. 
Mission: To heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.  
Vision: A community with no sexual assault, domestic violence, or child abuse.
Over 3.1 million people have been reached with information through the website.
The foundation has hubs in LA, NY and Honolulu, which has served over 15,000 people and employees people of all nationality, race, and sexual orientation to do the work of spreading awareness.
      I selected this foundation because I am a firm believer in everyone having the right to choose to live how they see fit, especially without being subject to violence, harm or danger. I love the concept of this foundation in addition to learned about some of the stories behind the employees and how they started at the company. I love the idea of giving back to your community whether that is locally of community of people dealing with the same issue.
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      The American Red Cross 

is  part of the world’s largest humanitarian network with 13 million volunteers in 187 countries. The idea is to help respond to disasters, build safer communities, and teach the rules of war. Each year, more than 100 million people across the globe are reached.
Many of the countries face many challenges and with the assistance of the red cross the ability to manage many of the issues are now possible. It is not about coming to the countries and make the change and leave yet it's about educating and equipping the locals with the tools and resources they'll need to be successful. I choose this organization because I remember seeing the signs in my town advertising to give blood and when I was old enough to do so I did, it to help save a life. I was informed in greater detail of the other areas of volunteering and giving of my time and talent to an organization that's been around for quite sometime.
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Save the Children

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organization for children. With work in about 120 countries, and a history spanning back to 80 years, the role is to save children's lives; fight for their rights; while aiding the people to fulfill their potential.


 Core values:
accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity and integrity.
Current goal is to dramatically reduce child deaths and improve children’s futures.
Save the children taught me about the effects of how poverty impacts children and their families all around the world and ways that I can help and assist.


Job opportunity: Field Manager

Location: Greece

Contract – Full-Time

Contract length: 3 months

The Field Manager will be the field level programme manager for operations in the specified location. They will be expected to lead on all aspects of managing the field base including supporting budget development and Management, agency coordination and representation, security, logistics and management of multiple teams The post holder will play a key role in building capacity at field level, and in the effective scale up and management of Save the Children emergency programs to increase impact and enable positive change for children.

Desirable

• Fluent in Greek and/or Arabic/or Farsi

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Temporary, Coordinator - Corporate Partnerships and Global Cause Partnerships

Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality required
Versatile and adaptable to new and/or spontaneous assignments 
Ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of people with diverse communication styles

Jobs/roles in the ECE Comminity:National/Federal Level

April is national child abuse prevention month, it's a time for us to recognize the role that each of us can play in the lives of young children in promoting the social and emotional well being of children and their families in our communities.

The Children's Bureau (Federal Program)
Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/programs
"Focuses on improving the lives of children and families through programs that reduce child abuse and neglect, increase the number of adoptions and strengthens foster care".
There are a series of programs, research, and systems that the children's bureau supports and promotes for victims to recieve proper treatment and care.
Some programs include but are not limited too Promoting safe and stable families, The abandoned Infants Assistance Program, The children's Justice Act (CJA), and Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) Grant. This program appealed to me because it identifies placement for the children that have gone through some of the most trying situations and acknowledges that some trauma can lead to the child not going back into an environment like the one he or she left.

The Commission to Elimate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF) (Federal Program)
Retrieved from www.eliminatechildabusefatalities.site.usa.gov
"Developed as a nataional strategy by the White House and Congress through a recommendation of reducing fatalities across the country resulting in child abuse and neglect". The goals established by the commission are to bring awareness to the problem, reevaluate best practices to have a clearer understanding of what is working and what is not, use the findings to encourage future policies while identifying solutions. These ongoing goals will aid in keeping at risk children against harm/injury. This program caught my attention because I enjoyed reading about the focus of this program attributes to lessing the causes of deaths in young people.

Health Resources and Services Administration:Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (State Program)
Retrieved from www.mchb.hrsa.gov
"Aids at risk parents of children tap into resources and hone the skills they need to raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn". Throughout the time spent with the families home visitors are able to prevent child injuries, child abuse, neglect and or maltreatment, reduces domestic violence instances, improved coordination and referrals for other community resources and supports. There are major benefits between connecting with the parents and educating them on how to strength their skills of communicating with the child, providing health resources, and easing fears of not being able to financially provide for a child. I am currently in a role that sends me into the homes of teenage moms and dad and we utilize a curriculm while connecting with the parents  to make them feel empowered. I learned that funding for this program will remain the same at least until 2017.

I find advocating on behalf of children takes initiative, drive, organization skills, the ability to develop, plan and implement direct advocacy services. The touch of creativity can aid in establishing bonds with the particular client and can possible catch someone's eye to an activity, in addition to Incorporating models used by particular programs.

job opportunity:

KidsPeace
Retrieved from www.kidspeace.org
Mission is to give hope, help and healing to children, families, and communities.
 KidsPeace was a interesting job because I typed in locations in NC but this job offer was to relocate to NY my home state. While on the site my curiosity grew about the requirements and other locations offered. The position is seeking for five-seven years of experience. Job duties include but are not limited too maintaining positive relationships with referral sources, managing admissions, carrying a case load, and ensuring compliance with all licensing and accreditation requirements.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State level

      Promoting child development and learning has always been of interest to me and the reason for my pursuit of my degree. Organizations that I believe will assists me in gaining competence in the Early CHildhood field is the North Carolina Early Childhood Association, which strives to bridge the gap o child care in North Carolina. NCECA seeks to improve the overall working environment of it's professional aiding that the proper educational supports are in place. Inaddition to advancing the rights of children.
      A way for me to advocate on the state level in support of Early CHildhood Education is through the North Carolina Head Start Association. The social issues which affect families, head start children, and their families directly affect the program. Gaining new knowledge of how to advocate on behalf of the families being served through professional development opportunities, collaboration, and networking.
      Smart Start's Partnership for Children services varying depending on the county one may live in, however support services are available to shape a child's future in a positive way,through ensuring children are healthy and ready to succeed in school.
     Every Early Childhood Professional has an obligation to seek self-improvement. In the future I would like to explore opportunities to increase professional knowledge and improve professional skills, by maintaining the ethics of the Early Childhood profession, search out workshops, readings,mentor ships and other learning opportunities that can extend my learning. Creating a Trauma informed teaching to reach troubled students will aid teachers in recognizing the behaviors associated with traumatic stress,the repeated exposure to violence, abuse and or neglect.
      I can see myself as a family intervention specialist, for Youth Villages which is a national leader in the implementation of research based treatment philosophies in the field  of children's mental and behavioral health. The position would consists of maintaining a case load of families, holding supervision meetings,provide educational resources. The skills identified through the listing are strong organizational skills and attention to detail, excellent written, verbal and or oral skills.

Profile of a volunteer

One of my life’s motto’s that I live by is “ Only a life lived in the serve to others is worth living”. (Eistein, n.d.) One of my most memorable volunteer experiences was the time I was able to serve breakfast at the local homeless shelter on Christmas morning. This experience was joyous in more ways than one, because I realized that the shelter has an extreme growing need of volunteers, and during the holiday time there is not as much help as other times. Some reasons may include the usual volunteers travel, or spend that time at home with their families. 

On this particular day, I had to wake pretty early because the shelter serves breakfast at 5:15am-7:15 am every morning. Once arrived I was greeted by a member of the shelter staff, whom showed me around the kitchen and assisted me in finding all the materials needed. At this location volunteers are able to bring in food to cook with which I understand lessens the use of materials on site for other meals throughout the day and or week or use of donated food/materials from local restaurants, supermarkets and community donations. 

On this particular day we were informed that we should prepare for 70-80 guest. It is required by the staff that shelter guest shower and get dressed before coming into the dinning room to eat. We prepared a menu of Bacon, Eggs, Grits, and Pancakes with the drink choice of coffee and tea. We were made aware that we had families with children, and their pancakes were made in the shape mickey mouse. 

It took assigning tasks, maintaining certain posts, music and lots of laughs to make the morning progress. I remember when the window opened up and seeing all the faces prepared to eat, hustling and bustling to make sure everyone was satisfied and hearing many expressions of thanks with words of gratitude. I remember taking a second to take in what was happening. Here I was thinking I was simply there to provide a meal and walked away with so much appreciation to community resources for providing opportunities for the public to engage, assists, and be informed of the needs. 

Once the food was served I was able to walk around the dinning hall, meet and greet some of the residents and hear some stories of how they’d been saying at the shelter for quiet some time, or the story a mother of three that express what it was like to be with her children and have some place warm to wake up too instead of being outside. 

It surprised me at the willingness of the guest to openly share their journeys with us and maybe to them it was a opportunities to have someone to listen without judgement and offer positive vibes. 

This experience sparked interests in me to volunteer there after this event, I was able to share my experience with others who inquired how could they get involved through pictures from the morning and since I have donated my time, and clothing to help some of the people at the shelter. When my family came to town to visit me months later I took them to the shelter where we bonded over creating a meal together and aiding in making someone else’s day through providing an experience of music, smiling faces, and overall positive engagement for others. 

Using Social Media to Get Connected

I use social media avidly for connecting with old class mates and family.  In the past I was on MySpace and thinking back now it was a trend that is no longer popular . I am mindful of post that I put up because once it's out in the media universe it stays forever. People can be and are judged off pictures, sayings, and messages that are directed to reflect situations.

Social media has its benefits in the sense that it is a free tool to use to market and inform people of a business or bring attention to issues that affects a variety of communities. Effective advocacy is spread through the mobile use of people's cell phones, I pads, tablets, and watches etc receiving information is no longer restricted to receiving a mailing in order to be informed. Yet alerts are popular to sending reminders or flash information to supporters, potential funders and

I personally can stay abreast of what resources are out there. Technology gives us the freedoms to click, upload, search and trend within a matter of seconds. One of the latest features I have personally used was Go Fund Me, which is an online tool to send money for cautious causes, its beneficial because it erases the fees associated with wiring money.

Are any of you bloggers outside of the assignment for school?

Advocacy Messages

By nature children are curious and some may say that is a feature that they love about their child. It is important that the adults are mindful of where that curiosity may lead that child to get into and not see the danger in playing with certain items can come with. This particular advertisement is bringing attention to Parents locking up their guns if they have some in the home or on the premises. It does not take any expertise or time for a child to gain access and attempt to play with a live and loaded gun and hurt himself or someone else.

The average child watches more than 21 hours of live television a week and another six hours of pre-recorded television, DVDs and videos. Advertisers strategically play certain commercials during particular programming. This is their marketing tactic to sell more products, or influence children to persuade parents to buy items and where to go for meals and activities.

If you are what you eat, your brain is what it experiences. Video entertainment is like mental junk food for babies and toddlers. American Academy of Pediatrics warned that children need to cut back on screen time because children are just sitting around verse interacting with others, or moving around and being active.  

Some moms have gained a sense of pride in being able to breast feed their child. As of 2015^[update] within the United States, legislation permitting breastfeeding in public has been passed in 49 states and a limited federal law applies to federal government premises.

It's natural and should be celebrated however in all instances that is not the case. This picture depicts a mom who is sitting in a bathroom stall feeding her child. Her facial expression is not that of someone that is happy to be sitting on a toilet as a resting place to feed their child.  

I've worked with teen moms who showed excitement about breast feeding their child and the second it's time to go back to school that excitement weans off and she becomes hesitant  with the idea of continuing because she feels there will not be a place for her to pump at school, or she'll miss a lot of time from class due to leaving out to go pump.