Sharing Web Resources

I am just so happy that I chose the Harlem Children’s Zone as my website of choice to learn more about what it has to offer children and families in Harlem.  This has to be one of the most successful community-based programs that exist in the United States.  The website is so full of information and resources that are valuable to families, children, and adults who are seeking a better life for themselves.  I just enjoy clicking on the different links and reading all of the information on the progress of the organization, the impact it is making on the community, and the lives of the people that they are changing on a daily basis.  While searching this week on the website, I notice that none of the links led to outside materials or websites and most of the links related to information about the organization.  However, I was very pleased to come across one of the programs being offered in the early childhood programs for parents and children referred to as the Baby College.  

The Baby College is an early childhood program that is offered to pregnant mothers and mother with children up to age 3.  The programs provides services, resources, and classes that teach the mothers how to care for their children as well as become teachers for their children.  According to Team HCZ Newsletter (2002), “The Baby College goal is to parents with information and support necessary to bring up happy and healthy children who enter school ready to learn ” (p. 2).  This program allows the parents to learn from professionals and a curriculum that will teach them about child development and effective methods to enhance their child’s learning.  Being that the first five years of a child’s life is when they learn the most; I feel that this program will be very helpful to the people in the community in which they will begin at an early age molding the children into productive citizens.  It made me feel really good reading the article and knowing that my future colleagues are making such an impact on the lives of children and their families.  This makes me so excited about becoming an early childhood professionals and turning things around for the children and families I will serve.    

Also while searching the website; I was also able to find information about the type of races and families that are served in which the organization has a diverse range of families that live within the community they serves.  Due to demographic changes, more and more immigrant and minority families are moving into Harlem and receiving some of the services provided by the Harlem Children’s Zone.  According to Team HCZ Newsletter (2002), “Today Central Harlem is about 15 percent Hispanic, and people of many different ethnic, racial, and national backgrounds are streaming into the neighborhood, including a growing population of West African immigrants” (p. 2).  This means that the Harlem Children’s Zone has to be able to meet the needs of the different cultures and make them aware of the programs and services that are being offered.  This also means that the professionals of the organization have to be informed of the different cultures and develop ways to get the families involved in their child’s education.  Reading the information on the website has basically provided evidence that the world is coming more divers and as early childhood professionals we have to be ready for the challenge and provide high quality services and programs for everyone.      

References

Team HCZ Newsletter. (2002). A look inside.  Retrieved from http://www.hcz.org/images/stories/pdfs/ali_summerfall2002.pdf.