Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

At least three local or state organizations or communities of practice that appealed to you, and explain why you chose them.

1.    NAEYC-National organization

2.    UNICEF-Local organization

3.    ZERO To Three-National organization

The reason I chose these three community practices to elaborate on because they have been very informative for me throughout my career and educational journey as an early childhood educator. 

Founded in 1926, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 80,000 members, a national network of more than 300 state and local Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations (NAEYC, 2013).

NAEYC is one of the largest community practices that been supporting the lives of children for many years. I have written many papers during my educational journey at Walden and most of my information has been cited from NAEYC.

If I had the opportunity to work with NAEYC, it would be in their legal department; a legal counselor would be preferable. Children are being mistreated and neglected all around the country every day in early educational programs and being a part of a organization to set forth rules in making a change would be a dream of mine.. I would help mandate policies and procedures to make sure people working with children are highly qualified and equipped to do so. There are no positions available after viewing there job site.  

UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. They have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. That makes them unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young (UNICEF, 2013). What I found to be the most important aspect of this organization is their focus of the well-being of children all around their country and not just on education, but the overcome of obstacles that hinder children from having a successful future. On their website, they offer several positions that interest me; one in particular was a child protection worker, these positions where out of the country. 

  

Zero to Three is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Our mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers (Zero to Three, 2013). Zero to Three organizations has been another resource that I use since being an early educator. They offer very important information that parents and educators need to know about policy making changes they may affect funding in childcare programs within our state. Being able to be a voice of reasoning in the early childhood programs and schools would be beneficial to not only me, but to the programs, families and most importantly the children.   

Having a career within each of these organizations would be an honor; for all three organizations represent community practice in a very significant kind way.

Resources

UNICEF has local organizations and representatives worldwide. Check out the country specific links and contact a local representative:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html

The Global Alliance of NAEYC has e-mail addresses for early childhood professionals worldwide:
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/   (May have to use http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ )
(Newsletters: