Global Children's Initiative

With no new information to report on my international contact I explored the website, “Center on the Developing Child”, sponsored by Harvard University. This center has launched a global effort to help ensure better health perspectives, appropriate development and greater rates of survival. Although adequate funding is still an issue an agenda has already been set for initiatives to study situations of child well-being in several countries, as well as the United States. Using an interdisciplinary approach, they are hoping to use data and insights from different disciplines to help form research-based programs and policies world- wide. Planning is also underway for collaborative gatherings so that representatives from all over the world can meet, share information and plan for global answers for young children. Unfortunately I have not had any more responses from my international contact. I plan to try to make contact by phone again.

NAEYC

The website I have been reviewing is NAEYC. This organization is leading in setting standards for quality care of young children. NAEYC standards have been adopted by major EC programs like Head Start, as well as internationally in countries like Africa. This is such a valuable source of information for any EC professional. There is a section for families in their magazine. It is filled with resources for parents with every day parenting issues like, sleep schedules, death of pets, and self-esteem. As for me professionally, since viewing this site and realizing their standards are adopted in some African programs, I would like to find out if any modifications have been made in regards to cultural and financial differences. I feel sure there are adjustments and I am wondering which ones and why. NAEYC also publishes ready- to- use guides for EC professionals. These guides help caregivers/teachers connect research to the practice of quality care. One personal insight is there is lots more to learn and find out about this interesting field.

International Early Childhood Contacts

I made contact with the director Delfena Mitchell of Liberty Children's Home in Belize. Contact was made by telephone. This children's home is currently caring for abandoned, abused or orphaned children, which incidently has the highest rate of abuse in the Carabean. Children from birth to five are the primary focus, but older siblings are accepted. I am impressed by the fact they allow abused children time to heal from their ordeals before mainstreaming them with school and community. Due to the fact contact was made today I don't have any additional information past our agreement to become partners for the duration of this class. However after studying the home's webpage I was able to get a better picture of the plight this home is facing. They are in urgent need of financial assistance for basic needs like food and utilities. This is something I would like to donate to personally. Director Mitchell was very welcoming and willing to assist me in making contacts with other EC professionals as well. I am very excited and look forward to the conversations. The poverty level of this children's home is obvisous to anyone, but there are children suffering in poverty that are not easily seen. In my own neighborhood there are children living in big houses,new family vehicles and all the looks of prosperity. Unfortunately and unseen is the fact the only meals these children eat each day are the ones served at school in the cafeteria. This is the new face of poverty to me and I will be doing further research on this topic.

International Step by Step Association

International Step by Step Association (ISSA) Within its network, ISSA supports a wide array of programs that collectively provide a comprehensive set of educational services and advocacy tools intended to influence policy reform for families and children, with a special focus on the years from birth through primary school (ISSA, n.d.) The global network offer memberships to individuals and nongovernment organizations. The main objective of this organization is that all children will have equal access to quality education, by implementing the Step by Step Program. This is especially for early years from birth to five years old. The hope is that children will become life-long learners that are equipped to make decisions that ensure success in an open society. Believing parents are the first teachers a child encounters strong parental involvement is encouraged. They also believe in community sharing of resources and ideas help accomplish these goals for all children. In one of the latest global meetings, sponsored by ISSA, several objectives were concluded as part of promoting quality within its program. One objective is to improve the quality of in-service training for new EC teachers. Another objective is to bring professional development and higher education into a modernized state by addressing global societal changes. As societies change new needs for children arises. One proposed way of doing this is by connecting higher education institutes with EC communities and programs. International Step by Step Association http://www.issa.nl/

Professional EC International Connections

Making contact with early childhood professionals outside the United States has proven not to be an easy task. So far, every contact attempt via email addresses outside the US have been returned undeliverable. The addresses for the main offices of the organizations located in the US have not been returned, but no responses so far. I have resorted to purchasing international phone cards to try establishing contact by phone. I am concerned about language barriers with contact outside the US. Perhaps the offices within the US will be helpful with communication attempts. Establishing connections is my first choice, rather than the alternate assignment. However, I will do the alternate assignment until contact is established.
At this point I have decided to study the websites for NAEYC and National Black Child Development Institute. This is for starts, but hopefully will get to examine many more. Because my plans are to work with lower socioeconomic child development establishments I made selections based on demographic interest and being informed about national standards and resources.
I will certainly post any helpful hints that might help international contact attempts and am interested in any information that will help me in my attempts.