A national nonprofit organization that educates, updates, and supports professionals in the EC field, policymakers, and parents.

http://www.zerotothree.org/

Since finding this website I have used it both personally and professionally.  The section that initially caught my eye was the Behavior and Development tab. I have  referenced it myself when I have had question regarding my own children, referred my teachers to the site, and pulled information recently to help me in developing a training for my teachers on challenging behaviors and classroom management.  What I have found quite useful is within each topic there is a tab with tips and tools with some really great information.

BE A VOICE FOR BABIES

Be Informed. Be Connected. Be Active.

Join the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network

The Public Policy section provides information for the general public to stay on top of new federal, state, and community policy approaches.  Specific articles included information on possible areas of budget cuts and how it will effect programs that support the health and development of infants and toddlers.

I have gained a lot of information from the following section:

Baby Brain Map

Age specific information is provided based on the brain’s development within that age range.  This section also provides information in which you can use to enrich your little one’s development.

It really motivates me to find organizations that allow me to be an active advocate for the EC field.  It allows me feel like I am involved and doing my part to educate others as to the benefits of this field and how we are investing in our future.

Childhood Poverty Research - China

CHIP - Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre
http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php

China is the World’s most populous country.  Total population in 2001 was 1.27 billion. Of this total, 4.2 million consist of children who live in complete poverty.

Suggested recommendations to reduce childhood poverty include:

·         Increase parent’s ability to provide a better standard of living by, providing retraining opportunities, business development support, and increasing minimum wage.

·         Provide high quality education for all children

·         Health related needs of all children are meet

·         Improve access that migrant families have to government and community services.

According to Grow up Free from Poverty Coalition - A child dies every three seconds from a cause that is completely preventable: dehydration, hunger, disease, violence. That is more than 10 million a year.

Poverty does not single anyone out. It affects everyone without bias.  With the help of continued research and partnership and outreach of organizations such as Save the Children hopefully we can understand the causes of poverty and come up with solutions or strategies to see improvements and one day see an end.

Sharing Web Resources

    http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.BF0B/Home.htm

“Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children” (Save the Children, 2011).

Our Vision

“A world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation” (Save the Children, 2011).

Our Mission

“To inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives” (Save the Children, 2011).

The United States organization was started in 1934 by a group that was inspired by the original organization founded by Eglantyne Jebb in England.  Their immediate goal was to help children and their families during the Great Depression and now today the families and communities of over 50 countries including the United States are touched by Save the Children (Save the Children, 2011).

CURRENT ISSUE:

Save the Children have already began to activate worldwide to reach out to families within the communities affected by the earthquakes and tsunami that hit Japan earlier this week.    Emergency teams have been dispatched and resources are on the way.  Those who want to help can donate through this trusted website.

I think most people want to help when disaster strikes but are unsure of how or even where to reach out.   As a professional in the EC field it is inspiring to know of an organization that focuses their outreach to children and their families.   This week I signed up to receive enewsletters that will be sent out monthly.  Information that I have requested to receive along with the enewsletter is emergency and crisis alerts, ways to help, and also an advocacy newsletter.

When I first began this journey of obtaining my master’s degree I knew that I wanted to specialize in teaching adults in the field but I have also become interested in knowing how to advocate for children and groups that I can become actively involved in.  In researching this website this week I discovered a way for me to get my foot in the door.  There is a specific that that helps to direct in how to become an advocate.  With help I have already sent in an email to my local congressmen on the importance of Early Childhood Development and the importance of continued funding for existing and future programming.

Save The Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.BF0B/Home.htm

A NEW CLASS BEGINS

Establishing Professional Contacts

This week we were asked to reach out to early childhood professionals outside of the United States.  The process for me has been somewhat unsuccessful.  So far I have not been able to open the link to The Global Alliance of NAEYC and I have attempted to email different representatives’ addresses from the UNICEF website and have not received any response.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I would like to keep trying to connect with a professional outside  of the US but until then I think I will have to complete the alternative assignment.  I have chosen to study the following websites :

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

I am very interested to learn more about the Save The Children organization.

http://www.zerotothree.org/

 I feel this website will be very interesting and beneficial personally and professionally.