Saturday, March 30, 2013

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



     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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