The Political will to improve Early Childhood Systems

THE POLITICAL WILL TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS

The blog assignment for this week concentrates on the political will to improve early childhood systems.  We were asked to share one or more strategies we have discovered as we worked on the assignments during this course, and particularly this past week, that are currently being used by advocates or organizations to influence the political will toward improving early childhood systems in order to foster the well-being of young children and their families.  We were also asked to share our thoughts on what part of this work appeals to us the most and why?

What I found while researching as well as applying my own experience in the field was that one of the most important focuses in the early childhood field, in my opinion, is the need of a system designed to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality of early and school-age care programs (Neugebauer, 2009, p. 66), as well as finding quality and affordable child care. Individuals have diverse abilities and these abilities account for a substantial portion of the variation across individuals in socioeconomic success. These gaps across children from different socioeconomic groups emerge before their formal education begins (Heckman, 2008, p. 307).

In the last twenty-two plus years, there have been a lot of changes to the licensing processes in the state of Mississippi as well as what is now being expected from licensed providers. One of the processes for improvement being explored and designed in my area is the quality rating and improvement systems standards (QRIS) (Neugebauer, 2009, p. 66).  To say being involved in this process is frustrating is an understatement.  I have been involved in the QRIS rating system over the last three years as well as the UPK grant since 2009.  During the course of working with the QRIS system I have been called a glorified babysitter who is uneducated and has no knowledge of how to match standards with goals, etc…  Suffice it to say this was not a good experience for the person who made these statements.  I do not throw my educational background in the mix when dealing with different agencies but did so this one time.  It was my pleasure to point out how “uneducated” I definitely was not (both book learning and experience).  This issue made it up to two supervisors over this woman.

Then it is time for the legal and political systems come into play. We need the political system to intervene and assist in passing legislation in order for the quality of the early care our children receive from unrelated individuals to continue growing. We need the legal system in order to pass the new regulations and put them into effect.  It would just be wonderful if those who are making these regulations and passing the legislation had any experience working day-to-day in the early childhood field.  I have offered over the years to open my child care to anyone who would like to come and spend a day or a few days seeing how it is run.  So far there have been no takers on the offer.  In order to make changes, we need to use strategies such as methods of how to use our voices, invest in our work, and join networks.  Of course, this is easier said than done.  It takes many, many voices to advocate for change – but what a difference these voices can make.

The work that appeals to me the most is definitely the advocacy portion.  I love to do research and use my voice in order to make a difference.  Advocating is an ongoing process that keeps evolving as each new situation occurs.  Knowing my nature, this is a challenge I gladly will take on.

References

Heckman, J. J. (2008). Role of income and family influence on child outcomes. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 307-323. doi:10.1196/annals.1425.031

 Neugebauer, R. (2009). Quality rating and improvement systems. Exchange (01648527), (188), 66-68.

 

Parent, Family and Community Engagement

Why involvement opportunities for parents and family members benefit young children, families, and the early childhood field

Parent, Family and Community Engagement is a very important system in Head Start. The Parent and Families Stories enlightened me to understand the importance of the role of the parent in Head Start. The stories came from all facets, they were intriguing, uplifting and powerful to read as a parent and teacher.  The stories were truthful, heartfelt and honest. Head Start relies on parental engagement in the classroom environment. Over the past ten years of working with head start, I have learned that family and community engagement is key to increasing student achievement and their readiness for college, career and life. Head Start focus on partnering with parents, educators, local businesses, churches, community organizations, elected officials, city departments strengthens the connections between the program and the community. From the stories, I learned that parents knew about the resources that Head Start provided for both the children and parents. After reading the Parent and Families stories on ECKLC, I am just convinced that success happens in Head Start classroom when families, students and educators work together in a holistic approach as each focus on the child’s academic, social, and emotional needs.

The value that hearing such stories has for early childhood professionals, for the public, and for policymakers and government officials

The stories of the parents, families and community gives parents the ease of knowing that their invested in supporting their child’s learning efforts, which makes teaches as myself and others feel that there is an extended team that is willing to work with to help students reach their goals. Stories like the ones on ECKLC need to be told to teachers which gives them an extra boost and incentive to keep doing the great job that they are doing. The stories were real life situations that others parents can read and understand from first hand. I am thankful to work in Head Start and every day, I hear similar stories of the tools, resources and education that Head Start has provided to them.  Am glad that I can be a part of a community that works together to help the children of tomorrow become lifelong learner.

Resources

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC), part of the Office of Head Start. http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs.

Quality Early Childhood Care

I hope that the public begin to understand the importance of high quality early childhood education over the next five year. The demand for early childhood care and education programs continues to increase not only in response to the growing demand for out-of-home child care but also in recognition of the critical importance of educational experiences during the early years. Several decades of research clearly demonstrate that high-quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood programs produce short- and long-term positive effects on children's cognitive and social development. Despite the benefits of early education, our nation has lagged in making sure high-quality programs are available for our youngest kids, in my opinion.  Early childhood programs have the potential for producing positive and lasting effects on children, but this potential will not be achieved unless more attention is paid to ensuring that all programs meet the highest standards of quality. As the number and type of early childhood programs increase, the need increases for a shared vision and agreed-upon standards of professional practice.

Making this vision of excellence a reality will require a commitment from and a partnership among the federal, state, and local government. I believe that if programs and the government has clearly defined standards for program quality and personnel, with input from the early childhood professionals, families, and communities, with ongoing planning and evaluation processes, to ensure positive educational, health, and social outcomes for children. I believe that it will be only through collaborating with early childhood colleagues and combining the force of our sciences that we will successfully influence policy makers to foster the kind of holistic health we envision for all children.

What Resonates With You About Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy?

Part 1: Why did you choose this specialization?

Every since I was a very small child I always wanted to be a teacher and I always wanted to work with small children. At a very young age I become a mother and I enrolled my child in Head Start and that is where my passion for children and families resonated. Someone helped me to understand the importance of parental engagement and why it is important to a child development. Early Childhood Education is the most important education that a child can get because it set the foundation for later life skills. I am a firm believe that Brain development is most rapid in the early years of life. When the quality of stimulation, support and nurturance is deficient, child development is seriously affected.

Part 2: Why are advocates essential in the early childhood field?

Many children do not reach their full human potential because of their families’ income status, geographic location, ethnicity, disability, religion or sexual orientation. They do not receive adequate nutrition, care and opportunities to learn. These children and their families can be helped. It is their right to develop as well as to survive. Good nutrition and health and consistent loving care and encouragement to learn in the early years of life help children to do better at school, be healthier, have higher earnings and participate more in society. This is especially important for children in poverty. A good foundation in the early years makes a difference through adulthood and even gives the next generation a better start. Educated and healthy people participate in, and contribute to, the financial and social wealth of their societies. Early Childhood Advocates focus on the whole family and that is key to children receiving everything they need to succeed in life.

Part 3: What do you hope to I  learn about public policy and advocacy?

At this point, I hope to learn how can I effectively help parents to help their children to succeed. I also want to learn about as many resource that are available to help parents and children. I want to learn about other educators who are currently working in Early Childhood and what are they doing in their community to help with public policy and advocacy.