My own Capacity

Which issues impacting young children and their families and or the field of early childhood fuel your passion?

Issues concerning children’s wellbeing, education, and health fuel my passion. I know of a family that had a child prematurely and the child had to stay in the hospital for quiete some time. The mom’s maternity leave was up she had to return back to work before the child was release from the hospital. Any additional time needed for the mom to spend caring for her child was denied through the employer and therefore the mom quite the job. An additional financial strain was placed on the family’s already emotional journey. An issue such as this needs attention brought to it and allow parents paid leave in situations like this. 

What special skills do you have that will contribute to your advocacy efforts? How will you incorporate these skills into your work?

I possess skills of advancing my own interests of curiosity, taking action to influence social, political and risky topics in this diverse field. All the while remaining eager and energetic. 

In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be a more effective advocate? 

I hope to expand my knowledge of more issues plauging young children and their families. While asserting myself into a range of topics that focus on policy making, serving the peple by joining community committees and utlizing my knowledge to advance my career. 

My Role as an Advocate

      What motivated you to start advocating for young children?
I have always had a passion and love for children, what continued to fuel that love was the birth of my nephew Justice. It was through his attendance in a series of childcare facilities; one in particular that deemed his behavior as " too much to handle" and wanted my sister to have him evaluated by a certain date. My sister refused and by doing so the center told her she had to find some place else for him to attend.
I can recall my sister being so stressed and worried that something was "wrong" with her child. Doctors could not seem to find anything wrong with him other than he was a thriving toddler. I admired my sisters story and how she did not waver at someone else's ability to use their position to make her feel inadequate, yet she fought to maintain her values and found a location for my nephew a place in which would respect his creativity and challenged him in more ways than one.



      When is it essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts at the micro as well as the macro  level?
 I believe advocacy for an individual child and or family begins with someone identifying a need, and that need being catapulted into a larger relm of not only affecting those locally but families everywhere. " Early childhood professionals, particularly early interventionist and early childhood education professionals, are most familiar and feel most comfortable because it occurs within their own sphere of influence". (Keiff, 2009 p.g 22) Being organized, efficient, and well prepared through research, documenting concerns, and ensuring children and families are well informed.



      What does it take to be a community leader on early childhood issues?
I believe it take someone that is actively connected to the community through there efforts and resources, someone who is not afraid of attending meeting or rallies to know what the issues are. Maintaining an awareness of what is happening in the community on all sectors school, church, childcare facilities, and community resources building, will keep an advocate abreast and will foster healthier environments for children and families.

What resources does it take to be a state leader on early childhood issues?
It takes someone that is willing to listen to there constituents, -"people that elected them, without their feedback of a problem existing he/ she will not be aware of the needs of the communities". (kieff, 2009 pg. 78) I believe rallying the support of others with similar interest can influence positive change.



      What tactics or strategies do you use to mobilize others?
 I use my personal experiences to bridge the gap with others in hopes of fostering a better future. My mission in working with others is to create trusting relationships which energizes others to be able to articulate the message of advocating for young children and their families.



      What advice would you give to someone who was interested in taking a leadership role advocating for young children and their families?
I would fully encourage their efforts and seek to assist those interesting with resources and or agencies that can help support their cause. Recently I shared a website I used in gathering information for an assignment with a participant on my case load that recently became a mom to a child born with a birth defect. When passing on the information to this new mom I shared with her she is not alone in her journey and sought to review the site with her to encourage her spirits and provided information about coping with being away from your child.

Resource:
J. Kieff ( 2009) Informed Advocacy in Early Childhood Care and Education. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle Rive, New Jersey.

Personal Advocacy Reflection

I find it quiet helpful to be able to assist others with connecting with local resources and services. Information can be at our finger tips yet some need a little bit of extra assistance and or  guidance getting to what it is he or she needs.

I can recall a situation in which a teen mom that I was working with had a need for childcare. It was important that she had childcare because she was still a student in high school and did not have much family support to assist her in caring for her daughter during the day while she was at school.

I transported her to the local department of social service building and we grabbed a number and waited until her number was called. Once called she had to go to the back and speak to a case worker and complete an orientation and was informed of the program guidelines and the process of obtaining a childcare voucher.

In the meantime the young lady and I called around to childcare facilities to find out if they had any openings, or how long the waiting list would be. Some locations she was able to complete an application to have on file for when her voucher from dss became active she could use it.

The process proved to be long and sometimes disappointing however to see the look on her face the day she received the call that she had received the child care voucher sounded like music to my ears, it was through the efforts and hard work that in the end proved to be successful.

Lets keep pushing

We are almost there, can't you feel it?