Time Well Spent

When I think about my journey of earning my master's degree in ECE, the first thing that comes to mind is community.  I can describe the wonderful community of peers, instructors and resources that I have grown to embrace and learn upon for ongoing support throughout my journey.




 First, I have learned the power of exploring and researching resources.  Throughout this journey, my resource library has more than tripled.  This has allowed me with ongoing access to reliable resources that are within the field of early childhood education.  Having knowledge and access to these resources has increased my effectiveness in being a leader, supervision, developing grants, grant writing and remaining abreast the latest trends and issues in ECE.

Second, I have learned the struggles of undocumented families.  The struggle, in particular, would be the challenge of sustaining parental rights during deportment.  Many undocumented parents, each year, lose parental rights while being deported from USA.  Communication with social services is poor and many undocumented families end up missing court hearings, due to not being notified properly by social services, which leads to their loss in parental rights.

Third, and probably the most important, I learned to believe in me!  I learned that I could accomplish a graduate degree in ECE.  It was hard.  I faced many challenges throughout my journey, but I remained on course and did not stop.  That alone...is priceless to me.  I am so happy to see this day come!!!

My long-term goal is to pursue a PhD in Human Services.  After the birth of my upcoming baby in September (yay!), I want to get back in the ball game of higher learning and get my ducks in a row to begin a PhD program in the Winter of 2014.  I hope to go into Higher Education as an Instructor, full-time, while pursuing my PhD online.  I have almost 20 years in ECE and I would like to share my experiences, positive and negative, with young students who are embarking on their own professional journeys!

To my instructors (all of you I have met throughout this journey) and my peers, THANK YOU!  I will not say farewell, as I believe it is quite possible for our paths to cross one day in the future! THANK YOU for your support, THANK YOU for challenging me, challenging my thoughts and pushing me to think outside of the box.  I will miss my community of support!


Please keep in touch:  Roikensha Craig - roikenshacraig@yahoo.com.. REMEMBER:  As ECE professionals, it is our responsibility to advocate on behalf of children, families and other important issues that have a direct impact on children and families.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

At least three international organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me and why I chose them:

The first international organization that appealed to me was the International Step by Step Association.  I selected this organization because of its promotion and advocacy efforts regarding access to quality education and early care for everyone.  The second international organization that appealed to me was the Save the Children International.  I selected this organization mainly due to their actions.  Save the Children play an ongoing and active role in saving children lives, fighting for children rights and ensuring all children reach their fullest potential.  The third international organization that appealed to me was the Academy of Educational Development.  I selected this organization because of its vision.  The vision of the Academy of Educational Development includes envisioning communities having the capacity to reach their fullest potential. 

Job opportunities (currently available or not) that interest me:

International Step by Step Association:

Although, no positions were posted for this organization, I have contacted them requesting information about available career openings within their Civic Participation in Education program services division.  This would entail working in their national and internationally advocacy initiatives on behalf of early childhood development programs, equal access to early education, parent involvement in schools, curriculum reform and teacher support.

Save the Children International:

Position: Regional Advocacy Manager – Syria

The Regional Advocacy Manager will be part of the SCI Regional Response Team and will manage global advocacy initiatives and liaise with Country Offices and the Regional Response Team, in close cooperation with the Regional Office. The function will lead international humanitarian advocacy and have linkages with SC members while ensuring a balance at regional level, and supporting country offices in the region, in developing humanitarian advocacy and ensuring coordinated, joined up advocacy approaches between countries in the region. The position will lead on keeping the regional advocacy strategy up to date and drafting advocacy products for use by Save the Children. The Advocacy Manager will also play a representational role and should expect to represent Save the Children in external meetings with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders, as well as the media as appropriate (and in coordination with the media / communications leads).

Academy of Education Development:
Position:  Nutrition and Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) Specialist (Technical Advisor I), FANTA III – Washington, DC

The Nutrition and Non-communicable Disease Specialist will take the lead in developing FANTA’s strategy on nutrition and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and other NCDs; and in managing the incorporation of this strategy in FANTA-supported Nutrition Assessment, Counseling and Support (NACS) activities.  They will provide assistance to USAID, PVOs, host governments and other cooperating agencies and donors in improving their nutrition policies and strategies in NCDs. They will participate in the review of USAID policy and strategy documents to ensure effective integration of nutrition elements into Agency and Mission strategic plans and results frameworks for activities related to NCDs.  They will prepare guidance for nutritional care in NCDs; the organization of training of trainers (TOT) sessions on nutrition counseling; and the development of food security assessment tools for the HIV and NCD context, to be used in the context of NACS services. 

The Nutrition and Non-communicable Disease Specialist will supervise the contracting of consultants and partner organizations for the implementation of activities, preparation of written products, and reporting of results in NCD and Nutrition.  They will take the lead in providing technical assistance to at least one country to strengthen the integration of nutrition into HIV and NCD services.   They will coordinate efforts to develop, revise and support strategies and tools for the quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) of NACS in relation to NCDs.  Such efforts may include: review of approaches for QA/QI of NACS by PEPFAR implementing partners; identification of promising practices for NACS of PLHIV and NCD; and the development of an evidence-based model approach to NACS guided by theories of behavior change and communication.

The Nutrition and Non-communicable Disease Specialist will also perform the following:  

·         Act as a technical resource to USAID and respond to requests for technical information and assistance on topics related to NCDs and nutrition, including the use of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and other specialized food products in the context of NCDs.

·         Represent FANTA at meetings with stakeholders related to NCDs and nutrition.

·         Prepare and present technical materials on nutrition and NCD topics at scientific forums.

·         Work with FANTA project management and communications staff in providing input to work plans, and on quarterly and annual reporting.

·         Review, revise and adapt technical guides and reports, presentations and responses to requests for information from USAID prepared by FANTA regional and field staff, consultants, and partners. 

What skills and experience I would need to competently fulfill each of these roles:

·         Advanced/Graduate degree in public health, human services or related field

·         Significant prior experience working in advocacy on humanitarian issues, child rights, human rights, or development issues;

·         Experience of influencing and advocacy work including lobbying, policy development and information provision in humanitarian issues;

·         Excellent skills in advocating towards government officials in developing countries

·         Analytical and strategic thinking skills

·         Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people

·         Excellent planning, management and coordination skills

·         Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills, with experience in managing multicultural teams

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

I selected the Maryland Head Start Association (MHSA) because of its commitment to remain a strong source of support to all Head Start programs in Maryland.  MHSA also provides ongoing policy advocacy, as well.  I currently serve on the MHSA Board, as well as, the MHSA Public Policy Committee.  At the present, there are no job opportunities.  All positions are voluntary.  As a member of the MHSA Board and Public Policy Committee, the skills that I need are strong communication skills, organization, time management and working background of Head Start.

I selected Maryland Family Network (MFN) because of its strong public policy and advocacy efforts.  This organization currently meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday.  Another service that I particular like about MFN, is that they provide help parents find high-quality child care.There are no job opportunities.  However, I do plan to become a volunteer with this organization.

The reason I selected this local community of practice is because of their mission to promote the well-being of children and families.  This is achieved through their promotion of healthy homes and its connection to the children/families who reside inside of them.  I recently joined this community of practice.  As a Head Start Director, I attend their monthly community partnership meetings. There are no job opportunities; however, as a Program Director, I am playing an active role in ensuring that Head Start families are connected to these resources on an ongoing basis.  As a community partner, the skills needed would be strong communication, resource sharing, ability to connect families and necessary resources and program design and management.

Reflection

The past 8 weeks have been both challenging, overwhelming and yet a delightful learning experience.  There were times that I thought I would not have the stamina to complete this course, due to other experiences that entered my path.  However, my educational journey has continued to grow and become stronger. 

I never thought the time would fly by so fast! Lol!  I have learned much from my colleagues, as well as, the abundance of education resources that I have reviewed and added to my professional library.  I think the discussions have been the most helpful, as well as, the blogs.  It allows me a chance to see what others have experienced, as well as, their opinions. 

In the future, I want to be able to always embrace the opinions of others and never forget to individualize for families, as I advocate on their behalf.

My Hypothethical Family Situation

My husband and I will be having quintuplets in the fall of 2013. We are both full-time educators. My husband teaches music education and dramatic literature. I am a Head Start Director. My husband also is a professional classical singer. We both speak English. My husband speaks Italian and Spanish, as well. In anticipation of parenting quintuplets, we are in the process of researching childcare costs, which includes hiring a possible Nanny or Au Pair. The majority of our family members reside in Mississippi. We reside in the DC area, as we are the only members of our family that reside on the east coast.


One of our immediate challenges would be securing a strong support system, as it relates to caring for quintuplets. The costs of child care and health care for quintuplets are also another challenge. Needs include the early health needs of our children which are likely to be premature. Our needs include having access to community resources which would ensure us having an opportunity to become educated in possible health risks, as well as, needed health care of premature quintuplets.


Having access to adequate health care insurance is a plus, as we both have excellent health insurance plans. However, we will need access to additional community resources that can link us to additional health resources that are available to parents of multiples.

As we are both full-time working parents, child care is also another challenge. Having access and resources that can connect us to Early Childhood Development Learning Centers/Early Childhood Education Programs would help us to peace of mind as it relates to ensuring that our quints would be receiving high quality child care. The challenge is affordability of these services.
 
In the area of Family Leadership and Support, we will need to obtain additional information in regards to parenting multiples. It would be helpful to receive assistance in locating various support groups for parents of multiples, as well as, community activities that promote networking among parents of multiples, as well as, children who are apart of multiples.

I believe my scenario is realistic.  I believe many parents of multiples can relate to various situations that are included in my scenario.  There are also many websites and community agencies that can provide additional resources and supports, as well.

The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

I believe the increased use of tracking and utilizing Child Outcomes in order to gain awareness of the importance of ECE has been far more the most effective in reaching politicians and government.  Child Outcomes allow programs to demonstrate what works and the outcome of infusing various effective (and not so effective) strategies.  An emerging outcome tracking strategy is that of family outcomes, as well.  I have found that when advocates utilize child outcomes, in order to gain political will, they are most effective.  Child  Outcomes provide clear facts and data that politicians and community leaders can see......bottom line is that it provides results.

The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework is a guide for Head Start programs to track and capture child outcomes.  This framework is very comprehensive and is in the process of being interwoven with  Head Start Family, Parent and Community Outcomes.  The Child Development framework covers all domains of learning, as well as, the approaches to learning.

Parent, Family and Community Engagement

I always enjoy listening to the heartfelt and meaningful strories of Head Start alum and Head Start families.  The stories enable me to believe in the strength, stamina and philosophy of Head Start.  

It is critical for policy makers and local government to hear the voices of Head Start parents and children.  These voices instill to politicians that Head Start is beneficial and can be effective in empowering families to achieve self-sufficiency, as well as, ensuring that impoverished children are ready for school.  

Parent, Family and Community Engagement is a critical element in ensuring the success of Head Start.  Head Start philosophy is built on the premise of parents being the child's first and foremost important teacher.  As we engage parents, family and community in early education programming, parents and families are learning and discovering and gaining access to community resources, developing and enhancing new skills and implementing best practices related to positive-child interactions.  Engaging the community creates a win-win situation.  Community engagement enables social agencies and organizations to provide needed services to targeted populations and groups in an efficient, productive and streamlined process.  While on the other hand, Head Start programs can increase, as well as, expand service delivery and options through partnership with community organizations, corporations and agencies.