Personal Advocacy Reflection

I was personally able to be an educational advocate for my friend who I was in the military with.  I had previously had a struggle finding resources because when I exited the military I wasn’t given a “proper” civilian transition briefing.  I had no idea what resources were available to me or how to continue school with my G.I. Bill.  Calling the VA only made matters worse due to switching between call centers, untrained personnel, and law changes due to the war.  I finally had to spend loads of time researching and figuring things out on my own.  When my G.I. Bill ran out I felt trapped.  I had 2 more classes till I was to graduate with my BS degree and no way to pay for it.  Again, I had to really hit the pavement to find out where to go, gaining bits and pieces of information as I went.  I finally had the answers with the Vocational Rehabilitation Center and was then able to qualify for benefits to extend the G.I. Bill out to finish the 2 classes I had left. 

A year later my friend became stuck in the same boat.  She was worried and came to me for help about where to turn.  She too had tried the VA route and got nowhere.  I told her about the Vocational Rehabilitation program and gave her the 1-800 number.  From here she was able to qualify and finish out her BS degree.  I felt really good that I was able to find out that information and then relay that help to my friend to help her as well.  I was angry at first that this information was not easier to find.  Education is such a huge part of the military that I was surprised I had to bend over backwards to gain the information.  Other areas that were hard for me to gain access to were buying a first time home as a veteran, employment assistance, and disability assistance.  In fact after I spent months applying for my VA loan to buy my first home, I was told it was good to go.  Only to get a call from my bank a month later saying if I didn’t take action the loan would be dropped.  Take action, what action!?  According to the VA you have to be married to obtain the loan.  No one told me that.  A call to a judge and 2 hours later I was officially a Mrs., and all for a house!  Although I love being an advocate, I would never advise getting married to buy a home ever again!  Ha ha….

When I Reflect About My Collegial, Professional Learning Community

Learning in a collegial environment always provides a great way for people from different areas to get together and share ideas.  I have really enjoyed being able to learn the opinions of other professionals in all aspects of early childhood.  Even colleagues who are not currently a part of the early childhood profession bring in outside resources and information which help to ask and answer new questions.  I also enjoy learning with a group of polite and caring individuals.  That always makes for a pleasant learning environment.  I also noticed that interacting and responding in online courses with other professionals, sets me up professionally in manners of speaking and being cordial in my daily working life.    

I have definitely learned to research into systems to see how they function and work.  To see who they work with and how these organizations come together.  I have learned in this class in particular that one organization does more than meets the eye or more than we read about.  We can affect the way policies are written and we can advocate for policy change.  I will take with me the cost of what changing a life means. 

My hypothetical family situation....

My hypothetical family situation involves a two parent household, both native English speakers, and one 2 ½ year old son.  The mother quit her job just before he was born and started going to school full time when he was several months old.  The father is military and they moved to where they are stationed shortly after his birth.  They have not made many friends.  The mother and father have been talking about having another child.  That is until their son was diagnosed with autism recently.  Now they are worried another child might be diagnosed with autism as well.  Their son had not been talking yet and the parents brought this up to his pediatrician at his periodic well visit.  Their son was given a series of tests and diagnosed as autistic on the spectrum, but more testing would need to be done to find out more information.  The parents wanted to know more information at the time but was told a report would be sent to them.  They felt devastated, shocked, alone, and as if all their dreams for their son had been changed.  The mother had plans to finish school and go back to working full time but she now has to find the help her son needs to make sure he is taken care of.  Her drive to the Children’s Development Center on the local military base is now done once a week for her son to visit with a speech therapist, an occupational coordinator, and a service coordinator.  The purpose of these professionals is to help her son develop to the best of his ability and also so she can learn some techniques to use at home.  His speech has improved but with autism there are many techniques that need to be tried before finding out the correct path of action. 

This is the early stage of finding out about autism.  The initial shock is over but more needs to be known and found out for the parents to feel comfortable with autism.  Is there anything else the parents might consider or want to know to further their knowledge?

The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

I think there are a few policies right now that are in effect to be changed or implemented that I read about this week.  In my area there are actually parents who are talking with local school districts about better means of transportation rules and regulations for children in grade 3 and under.  Parents are worried about distances from school bus stops to the children’s homes and what may happen in between that distance when children do not have an adult to walk with them.  Right now there is little being done unless the bus driver wants to stop at individual houses which may make for a longer bus ride, but a safer one.  I am all for this alternative. 

These past weeks I was able to learn that kindergarten is not required in all states and that some parents do not see the benefits of it.  This baffled me as I was under the impression that since kindergarten was part of the “school system” whether public or private, that it was therefore a requirement.  Although school systems vary between each state in regards to what requirements need to be met for teacher qualifications, the age to get into kindergarten, the requirements for graduation, etc., I believe that including kindergarten in the mainstream of things should be a norm.  It’s a transition phase that some kids really need in order to get into the flow of how structured classrooms work. 

What really appealed to me this week were the funding strategies and also the inclusion hopes.  Kindergarten is the first in line to the actual school path which children will (hopefully) follow for the next 12-13 years.  Maybe more!    Funding for kindergarten right now is done through the government as well as tax payers.  Some states have issued full day kindergarten and most haven’t but some have offered it as a pay if you want to attend type of thing.  These funding options are again excluding those who cannot afford to send their child to all day kindergarten versus the “free” half day.  This excluding of students may also be a continuation of those who were not able to attend preschool either.  Education is so important to the future of our society, economy, future adults… where down the road was this seen as serious, but not taken seriously?? 

Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

I reviewed three videos from the ECLKC (Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center) website that focused on Parent and Family Involvement.  The three videos and commentary I watched was a father named Gil Vigil, a father of children who attended Head Start, Diana Loyer, a grandmother of two granddaughters that attended Head Start, and Hilda Marshall, a great-grandmother who spoke about her granddaughter being in Head Start. 

These three different perspectives of the opportunities and quality that Head Start brings to children and families were inspirational.  Although Head Start is based on providing care, education, and health to low income families, this program should be available to all children in the sense that it not only helps the children succeed but it also helps the parents grow as well.  Often parents are so busy with working and trying to support the family that they are unable to spend time taking their children to school and helping them along their educational path.  Through Head Start parent and family involvement is highly encouraged and parents can serve on special councils which make policies for the Head Start Community.  The parents are becoming more involved in their children’s future and therefore the children are seeing that their family is proud of them and this encourages them to keep going to do better. 

I believe that hearing the stories of success and happiness from these families allows early childhood professionals to know that striving to change lives really means something to those who we work so hard for.  Helping children and families, and advocating for their rights and needs, goes a long way in the future of children’s lives.  It isn’t just about what we do today or throughout one school year or age, but the effect that takes over long from now.  Gil Vigil in the video spoke about how his daughter and son were in Head Start and are now college graduates.  The gratitude in his words showed how proud he was of his children’s success, and that is really all parents want for their kids- is the chance for success. 

*Note* I grew up with a single mother in the low income financial bracket.  Although my mother worked hard she made time to connect with me and ask questions about my life.  I went to school with a girl who was from a high income family, giving her every luxury she wanted, however they were never available to her emotionally.  Although her higher income lifestyle provided her food and health, she was missing a key element of inner fulfillment.  Programs like Head Start would have been great for her emotional development and would have impacted her future in a more positive way than what ended up happening.  Sometimes I look back and think if I knew then what I know now……

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center. (ECLKC). Head Start: Parent and Family Involvement. Parent and Family Stories. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs

Quality Programs for ALL Children

Although the knowledge base is growing in regards to the importance of early education and care, I still personally feel the need for the word to get out to even more people is necessary for the growth and development of all children.  I find that some families agree that babies are not really doing much and that the social interaction is not needed, nor is the verbal communication because babies cannot talk.  However research has proven to us time and time again of the importance of all interaction types.  It is only the knowing of this research that is stopping many children from receiving quality care. 

I believe public opinion is that children are our future and that our children will someday be running this world, literally!  The public could very well know this and understand the concept fully, but to know what to do about it to help children succeed may be far off.  Many parents work full time and are engulfed in the process which brings in their income, and those who are not parents may not even consider what is happening to children.  The factors that need to be addressed for young children may only be sitting on back burners to those who are aware but feel they cannot do anything. 

The multimedia presentation this week showed us how in the Nursery School strand times changed through the point and factors for use of the schools.  In the 1920’s these schools were used as advice stations for “child-rearing” which soon expanded into research facilities “where researchers and educators could study and foster children’s social and emotional enrichment” (Laureate Education, Inc.).  The research gathered from parent-child relationships that were being viewed branched off into ideas about the education and care that fosters healthy development in children.  Amazing to know that this is where the needs were saw and started to be met. 

I hope public opinion changes with more and more information spread through media and by voice.  The importance of education and quality care in the early childhood years is literally life changing.  No matter the economic situation of the family, all children deserve the chance to be exposed to quality care.  All parents should also be given the correct information about the early years of their children.  I would hope that with continued change in the advancement of education and care, young children’s rights will become among the top priorities throughout our government and our policies.  Since our children are our future and how we start them off in life determines a lot about who they will become I really wonder why teachers, early childhood professionals, and care givers are not paid as if they are doing something important?? 

The related implications that I can see from the early years becoming more important are that more jobs are made available for the highly important positions that teaching and caring for young children are.  That finally this field is noted with professionalism.  In turn all children and families can benefit (hopefully) due to the increase in jobs in this field. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (n.d.). Multimedia Film. Historical Overview of Early Childhood Systems. Retrieved from Walden University website https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_552753_1%26url%3D

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

The Blog Assignment for this week consists of three parts:

 Part 1: Why did you choose this specialization? Share what resonates with you about this specialization. Consider the relationship between your passion and aspirations related to public policy and advocacy and what you hope to accomplish with regard to promoting the well-being of children, families, and the early childhood field.

                I’ve learned not to assume I know what all encompasses in public policy and advocacy through my coursework with Walden.   Every time I thought I knew a term or a concept, boy was I wrong.  There were so many more things to learn, avenues to go down, opinions to take in, and aspects of myself that changed my thoughts about the topic.  So to answer why I chose this specialization (public policy and advocacy) I would have to answer based off of what I think it all means right now.  To simply fight and be a voice to be heard FOR children.  Whether that means standing up for something that is being plagued against them, or where their voice isn’t even being considered, to understand the policies that surround children’s rights today and then to advocate for their rights.  Most importantly I want to help be a voice for them. 

                When my mother and father were going through a custody battle in court I remember having to go and sit in a nearby conference room where I could still hear all that was going on.  Only a few times I testified but I was warned only to answer the questions that I was asked.  Being just a child, there was so much I wanted to say, that I wanted to get out, but also being just a child no one ever asked or gave me that right.  That is what I remember vividly from that court battle, among others things that I’d rather not share.  The fact that no one ever asked me what I wanted, needed, felt, experienced, anything.  That experience left a trail of memories with me that led me to want to help others speak out.  If I could find the correct position, I would want to be that person working in the court system with children who help them be a voice in a scared, dark, and lonely place. 

Part 2: Why are advocates essential in the early childhood field? Explain why you believe becoming a skilled and confident advocate is crucial for early childhood professionals and for the field.

                I believe that advocates of all areas are crucial for the early childhood field because sometimes children can’t speak for themselves or know what is coming.  Children are care free and innocent, they want to play and make friends, and make up words and worlds.  Children don’t necessarily need to keep track of where their school’s funding comes from, they only know that they love going to school.  Children aren’t able to build their own playgrounds, but they sure know that playing on them is fun and having one close to home is great.  Children become used to abuse at home and think that their guardians are their protectors when sometimes they are not.  Let the people who have dedicated themselves to early childhood worry about the resources, funding, and steps to take to protect children by making things happen.  And let the children be children with no worries. 

Part 3: What do you hope to learn about public policy and advocacy? Articulate at least three goals related to this specialization at this point in your coursework.

                I hope to learn more about policies, and who makes them, who gets involved, why are they written, chosen, and who benefits from them more.  I also hope to learn about becoming an advocate.  I have so many ideas about what advocacy is, I would like to have solid answers. 

Three goals:

1)      Learn about advocacy in the capacity that I feel comfortable explaining the definition to someone else.

2)      Learn more about policies and just who makes them.

3)      Be on track to the confidence needed to fight for someone much smaller than me.