Week 8 EDUC 6990 Time Well Spent

     In the beginning of this course we created a wordle. It helped us to identify what we were going to do for our Capstone project. The end of this course I have created a wordle as well (Please see below). This course has helped me to identify who I am as a professional in the early childhood field. The entire Master's program here at Walden University has guided me to become the professional I am today. This program has taught me that I am a strong advocate in the early childhood field. As I continue on in my work I have recognized, in a management position I am advocating for children and families as I develop programs and support staff. It is up to me to decide what the important messages in the early childhood field are to me. This program has helped me to recognize the voice that I have and that I can make a difference. Making this difference is important to do with a team effort. It is important to have time to develop a plan and then follow through with the action steps. Finally, this program has taught me who I am as a professional in the early childhood field. 

As I grew during this Master's program I became a strong leader. I have recognized leadership is not always about what you are doing in your current position, but your goals, your passion, and your personal strengths will guide you as you pursue your dreams. My long term goal now that this course is coming to an end is to succeed in my capstone project and follow through. I intend to increase the number of mental health consultants, treatments, and programs available to children age birth through five who suffer from mental health disorders in the Warren County community.

     To all of my fellow classmates and Dr. Embree I would like to say thank you. Thank you for supporting me in becoming a strong leader and advocate for the early childhood field. Your support, words of wisdom, and guidance have helped me to become the professional I am today. I could not have done this without you. As we all proceed on our journeys I hope to cross paths. If we do not best of luck in all of your future endeavors. You are all an inspiration and I know if you set your mind to it you will do great things someday. 

Job Roles in the Early Childhood Education Community: Internationally

This week I researched three international early childhood organizations that had a mission I believed in. I then looked up job/volunteer opportunities that I would be interested. The following is what I found.

The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) is a charitable organization interested in sharing new approaches to the education of young children and ensuring these approaches are delivered in ways that enhance children’s individual skills and abilities while providing opportunities for success in life (ACEI, 2015). This international organization has global coalitions, trends, and events. They provide “cutting-edge” research and create unique programs events and publications around the world (ACEI, 2015). ACEI has internship opportunities available during summer months where one would get the experience of online research and data gathering that would contribute to the development of briefing papers and other resources (ACEI, 2015). The position that stood out to me that was described on the website, but not currently available was the Global Advocacy Coordinator (ACEI, 2015). Unfortunately, there was no further explanation of the position as there is no opening currently.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic need and expand opportunities for children to reach their full potential (UNICEF, 2015). UNICEF has what is called Talent Groups. Talent groups is a pool of potential employees defined by area, expertise and level of seniority (UNICEF, 2015). After one submits an application they may be invited to a detailed assessment of their skills (UNICEF, 2015). These skills consist of competency based interviews, technical tests, and may include other written and verbal assessment (UNICEF, 2015).

Save the children is an international organization that invest in childhood every day in times of crisis and for the future (Save the Children, 2015). All around the world they give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm (Save the Children, 2015). They state they transform children’s lives now and change the course for their future and ours (Save the Children, 2015). I could not find any job opportunities, but I did find volunteer opportunities. The volunteer opportunities can be short-term or long-term assignments in areas of finance, fundraising, marketing and communications, public policy, social media, and research in administrative work (Save the Children, 2015).

References

ACEI. (2015). About Us. Retrieved from Associations for Childhood Education International: https://acei.org/about-us

Save the Children. (2015). About Us. Retrieved from Save the Children: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

UNICEF. (2015). About UNICEF. Retrieved from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/about/who/index_mission.html