Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

As an aspiring early childhood professional, I am willing to dedicate my life, time, and energy to helping children and impacting their lives in a positive way.  If had the ability to make things happen at the snap of my finger, no child in this world would experience any hurt, pain, stress, and would basically grow up feeling like they are on top of the world.  However, in the world we live in, children are placed in situations that they cannot control and have to deal with things that no child should have to go through.  Of all the things that I can name that a child experiences, I feel that child hunger is one that should not even be an issue.  According to Share Our Strength (2013), “48.8 million Americans - including 16.2 million children - live in households that lack the means to get enough nutritious food on a regular basis.  As a result, they struggle with hunger at some time during the year" (para. 2).  No child in this world should go with daily balanced and nutritional meals.  There is too much food in this world for children to go hungry and someone has to do something about it.  Therefore if I had the ability to conduct a study it would focus on the impact of hunger on children and ways to eradicate it.  

The focus of the study would be to show the world the harsh realities of child hunger and the fact that it is destroying the lives of children and negatively affecting society as a whole.  To see a child go hungry should not sit well with any human being who considers themselves a part of society.  Children are the most innocent human beings on this earth and deserve a fair chance at receiving the necessities of life.  The study would change the minds of every person in the world including the poor, middle class, the rich, the politicians, business owners, and every person that can make an impact on the lives of children will be affected.  This is an issue that cannot be changed by one person but the entire world.  According to the Food Effect (2014), “Fortunately, the issue is solvable. It will take a concerted, focused effort on the part of our society, our lawmakers, our charitable organizations and ourselves to feed our children and feed them well” (para. 2). 

Therefore in order to make positive contributions to the well-being of children and their families, I would have to get everyone on the same page and join the fight to end child hunger.  Once everyone is on the same page we would be able to make several positive contributions which would include no child going hungry, constant supply of foods, relieve of stress from families and children, uniting society as one, rebuilding the communities, and promoting the healthy development of children.  This will allow all children the opportunity to focusing on learning, enjoy life, and become productive citizens who are willing to give back to their communities.  In conclusion, my study will not talk about the situation of child hunger but actually do something about it.       

References

Share Our Strength.  (2013). Food insecurity. Retrieved from http://www.nokidhungry.org/problem/hunger-facts.

The Food Effect. All about hunger. Retrieved from https://www.thefoodeffect.org/all-about-hunger/.

My Research Journey

I am a person that loves to learn new things and seek new knowledge especially when it focuses on the well-being of children.  Since the beginning of this program I have been able to obtain information from many different sources that have given me an idea of the issues and problems that children, families, and early childhood professionals are faced with.  Also during my current course, I have been introduced to the research process and also given the opportunity to select a topic of interest that I have in regards to the early childhood field for my simulation.  After careful consideration of things that I have learned and resources I have read, I decided to select poverty as the topic for my simulation.  Poverty is situation that many children and families are living in which has a major impact on their lives as well as their development.  Living in poverty is very stressful for children in which it affects them in all areas of development.  This is a topic that every early childhood professionals should be informed on especially when it comes to the impact it can have on children academically.  Early childhood professional should be aware of the living conditions of their students and also be able to provide them with different resources and services that can help the families address their situation.  Basically my simulation will provide every early childhood professional with important information regarding how living in poverty effects a child socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically.  

The process of conducting research can be very difficult in which I must make sure that I keep my topic in mind at all times when going through the research process.  However, after being provided with information on how to identify scholarly resources, I feel more comfortable with selecting sources that will be used in my research.  In addition, I was able to gain an even clearer view of research by conducting the research chart in which I was able to identify different topics and terminology I did not understand and eventually convert it into information that is understandable.  I feel that going through each process individually and taking time to understand each part will allow me to successfully complete my simulation and have a stronger view and position on poverty and its effect on children.  I was also able to begin looking for resources on poverty in which I was able to identify several resources that will provide me with a great deal of information on poverty.  The articles I identified are as follows:

• The Effects of Poverty on Children retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/docs/07_02_03.pdf.
• The Effect of Child Poverty on Child Development and Educational Outcomes retrieved from http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=psycd_fac.
• The Impact of Poverty on a Child's Social and Emotional Competence retrieved from http://poverty.ucdavis.edu/policy-brief/impact-poverty-childs-social-and-emotional-competence.

I look forward to finding more information on this topic, learning more about research, and successfully completing my simulation.  I also look forward to sharing resources with my classmates and I encourage them to share resources with me as well as we continue to learn about the early childhood field.    

Networking in the Early Childhood Field

As I think about the experience I have had these last seven weeks, all I can say that it has truly been worthwhile.  The information that I have learned from my international contact has allowed me to view things in a different manner and has also informed me that children from all over the world are experiencing some of the same problems.  Stephanie has shared with me her views on the early childhood field and initiatives that the NAEYC has taken on to address the issues that the early childhood field is faced with.  I am honored to say that my international contact has basically given me that extra boost needed in order to achieve my ultimate goal which is to help improve the lives of children all over the world.      

As I reflect on the things I have learned and my experience networking with international early childhood professionals, I have developed several consequences of my learning on both a professional and personal note.

1. There are professionals all over the world that possess the same desire to address the negative issues that exist in the early childhood field in order to allow children to reach their full potential and develop into model citizens.
2. In order to become a quality early childhood professional I must make sure that I am aware of the issues, policies, and initiatives that currently exist within the early childhood field.
3. In order to make changes in the lives of children I must dedicated myself to a life to impacting as many children as possible and remember it’s not the number of children but the quality of the service. 

Communicating with Ms. Olmore has basically made my journey a little easier in which I know that there are many people out there already in the field waiting on new people to join in the fight for children.  However, as I continue my journey and work towards receiving my degree, I will always keep in the back of my mind the goal that I have to achieve which is:

1. To one day receive a position in the early childhood field that will allow to network with people all over the world in order to connect with them and develop a team that will be unstoppable and big enough to eradicate any issues that serves as a disservice to children.

 As I end my blog for this class I would like to leave you all with the following quote:

"I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams!"

David Vitter, U.S. Senator

References

Compassion.  (2014). Famous quotes about children.  Retrieved from http://www.compassion.com/child-advocacy/find-your-voice/famous-quotes/.

The World Around Us

It has been such a rewarding experience being able to communicate with other professionals in the early childhood field.  I have learned so much in these last seven weeks and look forward to shoring the information and applying in my future career as a professional.  I can honestly say that I am an advocate for children and will dedicate my time making their lives better by providing them with services and resources that will allow them to achieve academic.  I have learned a lot from my professional contact in which she has been a great inspiration and has given me the motivation to pursue my dream.

Stephanie Olmore is a dedicated professional who has devoted many years of her life as an advocate for children and is now in the position of being able to oversee all of the international efforts of NAEYC.  She has been in many positions that have allowed he to learn about the issues that exist within  the early childhood field as well as participate in many initiatives to address the issues that exist.  My contact with her this week was filled with a lot of information that she provided about issues discussed within her area, opportunities for professional development, professional goals, and her hopes, dreams, and challenges. Stephanie shared with me that she has enjoyed every minute of being a professional in an area that changes the lives of children all over the world.  When asked about the issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals being discussed where she work she stated that the issues were developing high quality early childhood programs that provide all children the opportunity to attend, setting high standards for professionals, consistent training across the states for professionals, and educating families on the benefits of providing their children with learning opportunities at an early age.  She also stated that within the NAEYC there are several opportunities for professionals to receive professional development which includes workshops, online learning, training DVDs, and conferences.  She stated that NAEYC is devoted to providing professionals with the necessary tools and information needed in order for them to better serve the children throughout the world.  In addition, I was able to gain information about her personal goals and dreams in which she wants to be able to develop initiative and programs as partnerships with as many international memberships with the NAEYC.  She feels that regardless of the location of the child or where they are in the world. they have the right to receive a quality education that will allow them to be successful throughout their entire education.  Her dream is to one day provide children to necessary tools and services needed to become model citizens.

This has been one interesting and wonderful learning experience and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  The information I have learned will allow me to be a better early childhood professional in the future.         

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.

Excellence and Equity

Once again I was able to communicate with Ms. Stephanie Olmore, in which she was more eager than I to share with me NAEYC's focus on the concept of equity in education.  NAEYC is well-known for its participation in different alliances in which it works with other organizations as a team effort in order to address the issues that are arising within the early childhood field.  One current alliance that NAEYC is a part of is the World Forum Foundation.  NAEYC along with 15 other alliance members which include organizations such as the Canadian Childcare Federation, Early Childhood Australia, South African Congress for Early Childhood Early Childhood Development and many others are dedicated to providing a quality and equal education to children all over the world.  The alliance serves as a global exchange of information and ideas that focus on the well-being of children and the providing of high quality services for children and families.  I was also informed by Ms. Olmore that the NAEYC is also a member of the membership organization referred to as the International Step by Step Association that also focuses on equity in education.  Basically the organization serves as the connection point between professionals and organizations in order to determine what is needed in the early childhood field.  According to the International Step by Step Association (n.d.), " ISSA promotes equal access to quality education and care for all children, especially in the early years of their lives. Established in the Netherlands in 1999, ISSA’s network today stretches across the globe from Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia, Asia, and the Americas" (p. 1).  This membership allows the NAEYC the opportunity to work with other countries and seek information on the state of education in other countries.  

World Forum Foundation

https://www.worldforumfoundation.org/

International Step by Step Association

http://www.issa.nl/

After communicating with Stephanie, I realized that there are many organizations around that world that is dedicating their time, services, and resources to help families and children. This fight for children cannot be done a lone in which it takes a village to raise a child. Therefore, an early childhood professional, I dedicated my time to serving others. 

References

International Step by Step Association.  (n.d.).  Home.  Retrieved from http://www.issa.nl /index.html.

Sharing Web Resources

Well everyone, I am here again to share with you more information on an organization that is making a big impact on the lives in children in Harlem.  The Harlem Children’s Zone is dedicated to providing children with the necessary programs and services that will allow them to develop into model citizens who will give back to their community.  The website for the organization is filled with valuable information for any parent, child, or professional, especially those who work within the early childhood field.  As I searched through the website, I became overwhelmed and overjoyed with the amount of information that seemed particularly relevant to my current professional development.  One specific section that caught my eye was the one that was titled Issues.  Many of the issues discussed in this section are issues that are occurring with children and professionals all over the world.  The resources in this section provided different literature on topics such as long-term success of children, list of effective programs, and federal initiatives.  Another section that is relevant to my current professional development is the section on programs that are being implemented by the organization.  This section will allow me to view actual programs that have been effective and which can be applied in my community as well.  It gives any professional an idea of what works and what is effective when it comes to serving children and families.   

As I continued to browse the website I came across a newsletter that was printed in 2009.  The thing that caught my attention about this newsletter was the effort that the organization put forth in order to keep things going and impacting children.  This made me think about all of the programs that have been started in my community that later failed.  What were they doing wrong? How were the programs evaluated?  These are questions I began to ask myself and wonder why they couldn’t be successful like the Harlem Children’s Zone.  This organization receives help from celebrities, volunteers, community officials and makes sure that everything that is done focuses on their core values.  I feel that this is an organization that could help other organizations progress and change things for the better in other communities.  I was even able to find information that adds to my understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field.  The Harlem Children’s Zone has developed a Quality Assurance Team to make sure that their programs are effective and that the resources and services the children receive will pay off in the future.  According to Team HCZ Newsletter (2009), “QAT was developed to improve that division’s quality of work, while building upon HCZ’s core values.  On an ongoing basis, QAT now reviews and evaluates the output of preventive’s five branches to ensure that the division is servicing its clients and families to the best of its abilities and performing at its optimum potential” (p. 2).   

As an early childhood professional, I am so glad that the Harlem Children’s Zone is dedicated to changing the lives of children and I hope to one day be a part of an organization that has the drive and force like this one.

References

Team HCZ Newsletter. (2009). 100 days of Peace and purpose.  Retrieved from http://www.hcz.org/images/stories/pdfs/teamHCZ_spring09_v4.pdf.