Job/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

                              Three National/Federal Organizations

1)    National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE)

2)    National Head Start Association (NHSA)

3)    The Children’s Defense Fund

 

 

I chose these organizations because they all are open to any person whose concerns are primarily related to the education and care of young children. These agencies cooperate with other national and international organizations concerned with the study and education of young children. NAECTE advocates for improvements in early childhood teacher education. All children should reach their full potential and succeed, and these agencies make group efforts to ensure that children are set up for success and not failure throughout their early years. These organizations stand up for children to ensure that all children’s survival, protection and development are not negatively altered.

                                      Job Opportunities/Skills and Experience Needed

The National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators

had several professor job opportunities; however, the one that interests me the most is the Child Development Specialist position. The Specialist will be expected to provide high-quality assessment and intervention activities from children ranging in ages 0 to 5 and will also work on an interdisciplinary care team to participate in developmental intervention services. The ideal candidate must have a B.S. in Child Development, Psychology, Education, or Speech and Language Pathology, minimum one year working with young children birth to 5years, current CPR, and Bilingual (English/Spanish) required. The National Head Start Association

has three current positions available; however, the one opening that sparked my interest was the Policy, Data, and Research Fellowship position. The job consisted of working on policy and advocacy on behalf of Head Start. The agency is looking for those who are committed to Head Start, including a bachelor’s degree and great communication and organizational skills, and with one to three years relevant work experience. The Children’s Defense Fund

has several programs that provides quality early childhood development and learning experiences. This organization provides internship positions which allow committed individuals an opportunity to ensure that every child has a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage into adulthood.

Reference

Early Childhood Education and Care-Children Defense Fund www.childrensdefense.org/policy-priorities/early-childhood-education-care/

National Head Start Association www.nhsa.org/

National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators www.naecte.org/

 

 

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Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

                                   Three local or state organizations

1)    TAEYC (Texas Association for the Education of Young Children)

2)    Early Childhood Intervention Services at the Andrews Center

3)    Salvation Army (Pathway of Hope)

I chose TAEYC because it supports quality for all children. TAEYC views the early years of a child’s life as a ladder which will support a child’s ability to be set up for future academic achievements. TAEYC collaborates with other agencies in order to alleviate and to address any needs that young children and their families need fulfilled. There were no available job opportunities; however, the agency values and utilizes those who are interested in volunteering and contributing to the great cause.

          The Andrews Center provides Early Childhood Intervention to support and assistance children and their families. This program provides services in the home or in other environments; which ensures that services are accessible and available for each family in order to enhance their child’s development and growth. Staff also partners up with childcare centers and extended family members in order to provide the best services to meet the child’s developmental and learning skills. Although the center does have available job opportunities, I did not see any available openings that interest me at this time.

          Salvation Army (Pathway of Hope) believes in supporting families in order to contribute by assisting families in turning their difficult situations around long term. I chose this organization because if families are receiving the resources needed to better their situation, children will be affected the most because their needs will be met as well and it may ensure a greater chance for children to receive adequate education and care. There were no available job opportunities; however, the agency values and utilizes those who are interested in volunteering and contributing to the great cause.

                                         Skills and Experience Needed

          The Andrews Center and the Salvation Army requires either a bachelor or a master degree in fulfilling the positions listed above. Experience is appreciated, but not required. TEAYC encourages those who may consider in becoming a member or a volunteer to join the organization in order to partner up and effectively carry out the cause in order to benefit and support children and their families.