What specific section (s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?
I like the knowledge center on the NHSA website. The knowledge center provides the infrastructure that generates, curates, communication, and connects knowledge across these groups to support the future of Head Start and Head Start children (www.nhsa.org). The knowledge center has four centers that supports the early childhood field. The Center on Advocacy- it focus on alumni, parent-support, and a bipartisan strategy that organizes national, state, and local activities to make sure head start have a successful future. Center for Practice- engages organizations that are committed to Head Start families and children. Its purpose is sharing knowledge, creating resources for quality and innovation, so that we have a community of learners to strengthen Head Start programs. Center for Policy, Data, and Research- produces new information to lead reform for stronger children and family outcomes. Center on the States- supports and cultivates best practices in State- based early learning systems. It always supports Head Start communities through a network of people to prepare them to be visionary leaders, trusted partners, and voices for families and children.
The National Read aloud challenge is a resource that I find that can be a little controversial. NHSA are joining forces to increase awareness and supports for families to read to their child. I think this is awesome program. It gets the families involves in their children's education. My question is how do you know you know families are actually doing this at home. NHSA provides a toolkit that they can download and use. What if the family can't read? How does this help them? Now, I'm asking you is it successful? This why I think this issue can be controversial.
The NHSA website have a book called, "Learning Together". The author of the book is Michael Kaufman. After reading the reviews, the book can give great insights on how the politicians, neuroscientist, and other lawmakers are doing for the early childhood field. It talks about the investment in effective early childhood education programs.
My new insight on the website was learning about the News, updates, reading their blog and when the upcoming conferences and events that are happening in the early child hood field. I found this to be resourceful for me. I am able to attend some of the events, and can voice how I feel on some issues. Most importantly, I can meet new people and collaborate with them on early childhood issues.
Reference
National Head Start Association. Retrieved from: http:/www.nhsa.org.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Getting to know your International Contacts-Part 1
Ghana
I would like to share my three insights on education, health, and nutrition on child poverty and disparities in Ghana.
Education: Disparities between boys and girls especially in levels of educational attainment are being reduced as a result of specific interventions at all levels of the economic, political, social and cultural structures in Ghana. Despite the progress made to narrow the gender gap in education, a lot; more needs to be done in the area of retaining girls at school beyond the first six years of basic school(http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Ghana_reportdesign_July2010.pdf). The government should adopt special packages for the girls in deprived areas. When these girls don't get the necessities like food, tuition materials, sanitary pads; they are not in full attendance at school. The government needs to take steps to legislate laws that support implementation of FCUBE and expand school enrollment when concerning child education. The government needs to conspire with a view to expanding preschool access; to make sure the transition from home to school is implemented.
Nutrition: There is a high malnutrition rate in rural areas and Northern Ghana. Analysis shows that this is a serious problem and have gotten worse. Nutrition should be their top priority, because of related disorders and deaths in young children in Ghana. The main key is to expand resources for nutrition programs. Government agencies should work together and target the areas that are suffering with malnutrition.
Health: The main objectives concerning health are improve malaria case management, enhance multiple prevention, improve immunization coverage, reduce HIV impact on children, enhance focused research, and promote collaboration and partnership. This will help children get the services they need, and provide transportation for the hospitals, and adequate shelter and nutrition. They will be protected from infection and other illness. The government should involve the families and communities to assess the problem.
The total number of children in the age group 0-14 was 6,728,457 in 1991; by 1998 it increased to 7,776,125 reaching 8,823,792 in 2005. By 2006 the number of children increased to 8,973,459. About 52 percent od children were considered as poor in 1991; the child poverty rate fell moderately to 40.1 percent in 1998;/by 2005/6, 29.1 percent of children were estimated to be poor (http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Ghana_reportdesign_July2010.pdf).
Reference
UNICEF National and regional child poverty/deprivation reports. Retrieved from:
http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Ghana_reportdesign_July2010.pdf
I would like to share my three insights on education, health, and nutrition on child poverty and disparities in Ghana.
Education: Disparities between boys and girls especially in levels of educational attainment are being reduced as a result of specific interventions at all levels of the economic, political, social and cultural structures in Ghana. Despite the progress made to narrow the gender gap in education, a lot; more needs to be done in the area of retaining girls at school beyond the first six years of basic school(http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Ghana_reportdesign_July2010.pdf). The government should adopt special packages for the girls in deprived areas. When these girls don't get the necessities like food, tuition materials, sanitary pads; they are not in full attendance at school. The government needs to take steps to legislate laws that support implementation of FCUBE and expand school enrollment when concerning child education. The government needs to conspire with a view to expanding preschool access; to make sure the transition from home to school is implemented.
Nutrition: There is a high malnutrition rate in rural areas and Northern Ghana. Analysis shows that this is a serious problem and have gotten worse. Nutrition should be their top priority, because of related disorders and deaths in young children in Ghana. The main key is to expand resources for nutrition programs. Government agencies should work together and target the areas that are suffering with malnutrition.
Health: The main objectives concerning health are improve malaria case management, enhance multiple prevention, improve immunization coverage, reduce HIV impact on children, enhance focused research, and promote collaboration and partnership. This will help children get the services they need, and provide transportation for the hospitals, and adequate shelter and nutrition. They will be protected from infection and other illness. The government should involve the families and communities to assess the problem.
The total number of children in the age group 0-14 was 6,728,457 in 1991; by 1998 it increased to 7,776,125 reaching 8,823,792 in 2005. By 2006 the number of children increased to 8,973,459. About 52 percent od children were considered as poor in 1991; the child poverty rate fell moderately to 40.1 percent in 1998;/by 2005/6, 29.1 percent of children were estimated to be poor (http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Ghana_reportdesign_July2010.pdf).
Reference
UNICEF National and regional child poverty/deprivation reports. Retrieved from:
http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Ghana_reportdesign_July2010.pdf
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Sharing Web Resources
The name of my web resource that I chose was the National Head Start Association. The link is https://www.nhsa.org/get involved/join/membership.
The National Head Start Association is a nonprofit organization. They believe that every child has the ability to succeed in life; regardless of their condition of birth. NHSA has worked meticulously for policy changes that guarantee all at-risk children to have access to the Head Start model of support for the whole child, as well as the community and the family.
On July 7, 2016; the House Appropriations sub committee for Labor Health and other related agencies passed their FY17 funding bill. In 2015, the bill cutting was 570 million, from last year's FY16 level. The bill included 141.6 million dollar increase for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The bill increased the Head Start Workforce meet rising operating costs through a cost of living adjustment. This will allow Head Start programs all over the country to keep pace with rising operating costs and support and retain staff.
I learned that NHSA have a knowledge center. The Knowledge Center provides the infrastructure that foster communities, curates, and affix knowledge across these groups to support the future od Head Start and Head Start children. The work is organized through four centers, and they are: Center of Advocacy, Center in Effective Practice, and the Center on the States. These centers a re designed to support the Head Start field in both daily practice and ongoing advocacy.
The National Head Start Association is a nonprofit organization. They believe that every child has the ability to succeed in life; regardless of their condition of birth. NHSA has worked meticulously for policy changes that guarantee all at-risk children to have access to the Head Start model of support for the whole child, as well as the community and the family.
On July 7, 2016; the House Appropriations sub committee for Labor Health and other related agencies passed their FY17 funding bill. In 2015, the bill cutting was 570 million, from last year's FY16 level. The bill included 141.6 million dollar increase for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The bill increased the Head Start Workforce meet rising operating costs through a cost of living adjustment. This will allow Head Start programs all over the country to keep pace with rising operating costs and support and retain staff.
I learned that NHSA have a knowledge center. The Knowledge Center provides the infrastructure that foster communities, curates, and affix knowledge across these groups to support the future od Head Start and Head Start children. The work is organized through four centers, and they are: Center of Advocacy, Center in Effective Practice, and the Center on the States. These centers a re designed to support the Head Start field in both daily practice and ongoing advocacy.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Establishing Professional Contacts
I chose the second website;
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 to locate and contact two professionals. The UNICEF are the leading advocate for children's rights. This website is where you can learn about their goals and accomplishments for each region. I went to contact us and emailed them at accra@unicef.org. I also tried to fax them at 773.147; I was not successful. It have been three days and I have not heard anything from an early childhood professional. my second contact was Jamaica. I contacted them at Kingston@unicef.org. I sent a fax to 929.8084, and it did go through. I am waiting for a reply. I explained to both of my contacts that I am a student in the United States that is working towards a Master degree in the early childhood education. I stated that I would like to discuss their work, the state of the early childhood field in their country, and any concerns, as well as their hopes and dreams for this field. I may have top go the alternative assignment if I have not received anything by Monday.
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