As a
child Advocate this is such a HUGE choice, how do I narrow my search of
National/federal organization or community of practices down to three? Well, the
first thing I thought about was all the many contacts I gained over the course
of my studies in this field. And I definitely want to include my military
affiliation. The following three are my choices: https://my.usajobs.gov.This site offers a
wide variety of jobs both on the appropriated and non-appropriated side. I
selected an assistant Child Development Director position with the Department
of Air Force. Because this job is in the United Kingdom, I was glad to see that
one of the key requirements was that they would pay for my travel and to
relocate. Some of my duties will include:
to assist in the supervision of day to day operations of the Child Development
Center. Assist the director with operation of the Child Development Center.
Provides input in preparation of the appropriated fund and non-appropriated
fund budgets and helps maintain USAFE financial goals. A plan, schedules,
assigns and directs the work of center personnel. Ensures that a safe, healthy and
comfortable environment exists in the Child Development Center and that
security and maintenance is monitored.
Performs public relations duties in support of Child Development Center.
This Position does require specialized experience such as: At least one (1)
year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (GS-07) or
equivalent. Specialized experience must
include knowledge of a wide range of principles,
concepts, and practices of child care such as would be gained through extensive
education, training, and experience; knowledge of program management
encompassing skill in applying this knowledge to difficult and complex work
assignments; a comprehensive, intensive, practical knowledge of a wide range of
child development, and family member needs and skills in applying this
knowledge to the development of new methods, approaches or procedures;
knowledge of child development sufficient to ensure curriculum development
stimulates growth and learning; knowledge of rules and regulations pertinent to
child care programs, and ability to maintain and expand programs within these
criteria(https://my.usajobs.gov).
My second choice is The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and
Education Programs. Being a validator I something I think about from time to
time. I think it would be a very interesting position because it allows me to
ensure that day care centers are operating within state and government
regulations. Some benefits of being a validator are: Thorough training; Honorarium
for each day of a validation visit; All expenses associated with the validation
visit reimbursed; and Opportunities to network with other Validators. This program values the contribution that validators
provide to the accreditation process. Trained early care and education
professionals conduct on-site classroom observations and review documentation
in order to validate a program’s reporting on Commission criteria.
Validators work within their own state or region. Out-of-state travel is
optional. Some qualification for being a Validator are: Hold a BA/BS in Early Childhood Education or
Child Development or a closely related field; an Associate’s Degree with
experience commensurate with a four-year degree may be considered; Demonstrate knowledge of optimal child development practices; Have practical experience in the field of early care and
education; Have excellent written and oral communication
skills; and Demonstrate keen observation skills(http://www.naccp.org).
My final choice
is The Harlem Children Zone- This is a nonprofit organization which is run sole
on donations. They have five principles of success, they are: 1.Serve an entire
neighborhood at scale 2.Create a birth-through-college pipeline of
best-practice programs3.Build community among parents, children, and
institutions 4.Rigorously evaluate programs for continuous improvement 5.Cultivate
a culture of success within the organization. Their overall goal is to make
sure that children graduate from college so they can be prepared for the
high-skills job market. HCZ has programs to address the needs of children at
each stage of their development and also works to strengthen the families and
community around them. To qualify for employment with the HCZ, one must be talented
and passionate professionals who are committed to improving the lives of our
children and families (http://www.hcz.org). Another
reason I chose this organization was because it followed children through
college. This is an excellent program and it has motivated the community in way
that pays it forward. Children who have gone through the program tend to return
and give back to the community and the program, making it better for the next
child.
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