Advocacy Messages

I really liked this advertisement for fathers being present in their child's lives.  Although there isn't a tagline involved, it's the humor in the message that makes it memorable.
http://bcove.me/53pdh287  and another  http://bcove.me/049xpxje.  Too cute!!

This is a link to the ActionHeroAlliance.com that encourages children to eat better and become super heros.  With all of the super hero movies out and action figures available, I believe this campaign really targets kids today.  http://bcove.me/fegc2shf

I also thought this message was inspiring since it brings to light our current look at being beautiful.  The ad says that this woman does not walk runways, but she does walk to a village to save countless children.  http://bcove.me/a7ndbq7v 

I don't have cable so I have never seen any of these commercials or any commercials at all for that matter. 

Here was an ad that I thought was very smart and witty.


I feel that all of these messages provide humor along with their message for hope and change, and in that everyone can smile and think about them throughout the day.  I find that when I see something funny I am more likely to remember it and also reflect back on and want to become a part of it.  If the message makes you feel good, wouldn't you want to join in? 

My Own Capacity

There are a couple issues which impact early childhood that fuel my passion to advocate.  The first is emotional stability in children and the other is child abuse and neglect.  I believe these can tie in together due to the fact that from abuse and neglect brain patterns can develop differently and coping strategies can too.  This can lead to children harboring feelings of resentment, not being able to trust, and feeling frightened in otherwise non-threatening situations.

Some resources that I have to help in my advocacy work are childhood organizations in my area which I could speak to in order to gain alliances and information from.  I also have a local library for research, and a mental health agency nearby which I could also gain research information.  I have websites for which I could use to obtain the numbers and business addresses of my local government. 

In order for me to grow I would like to first state what attributes I have.  I feel that I make friends easy and I ask a lot of questions, which is sometimes annoying but helpful in my understanding.  I feel that I can research easy, as far as gaining information, more thorough research is something I can’t attest to.  However, I would like to grow in the area of the law and the policies.  I am not up to date there and I also have a hard time reading the jargon that goes along with it.  Sometimes I can get very nervous and forget what I was trying to say, so growing in the area of being anxious versus calm would be a good start since advocacy requires frequent meetings with policy makers and their staff.       

My Role as an Advocate

◦What motivated you to start advocating for very young children?

My daughter was my first motivation and always will be.

 ◦Why is it essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts at the micro as well as the macro level?

I believe that we must start small to make a big difference.  Starting at the micro level allows us to gain a better insight into how organizations function and their role in building to the macro level. 

 ◦What does it take to be a community leader on early childhood issues?

I think it takes dedication, long hours, the ability to create and drive followers, and positive thinking that remains through the bad as well as the good.

 ◦What resources does it take to be a state leader on early childhood issues?

Having many people to back you on an issue and a gathering of others who are willing to advocate for the same issues.  This provides many voices to the policy makers who are to be our biggest allies.  To form alliances with policy makers and to be known in the government sector.    

 ◦What tactics or strategies do you use to mobilize others?

Speaking directly to or sending information to other organizations and agencies making them aware of the issues.  I would also like to see a follow through plan in which other advocates would be able to see our goals and who we would like to talk to. 

 ◦What advice would you give to someone who was interested in taking a leadership role in advocating for young children and their families?

I would advise them of the determination needed, and the setbacks that can occur in order to reach goals.  As well as sticking to one task at a time, which can be difficult when you feel the ball is rolling.  But I think looking back and reliving the experience of the successes and failures helps prepare us for the next steps in advocacy work and our goals. 

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??