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

The three national/federal organizations that appeal to me are Child Welfare Information Gateway, Foster Kinship, and the Children’s Defense Fund. Child Welfare Information Gateway is a website that caters to those who are grandparents and other relatives for children. This website has a few resources that help grandparents and kinship families to understand the child welfare system, how it works and the services they receive, and steps on how to parent a child that child in extreme cases. The Foster Kinship website works to empower kinship caregivers and builds their capability to provide the safest, most stable, and permanent placements for children in their care. Kinship also has a family advocacy and Case Management program, support groups, and kinship family events. The last organization that I came across was the Children’s Defense Fund. CDF has a Kinship navigator program that helps the grandparents or other relative caregivers to understand the ins and outs of the child welfare system. They also have information about early child care and education programs for the families and children.

Some of the jobs that appeal to me are a college professor that require you to have the skills of advance education in child development and age-appropriate programming strong analytical skills, and the ability to communicate clearly. College professors also have a Ph.D or Ed.D. Another job that I saw interesting was a government official. The government official has a knowledge of a topic area, good writing, ability to work with others, and great communication skills. In these positions, people are held responsible for the well-being of children and families. According to what position you may have, a minimum of an associate’s degree and experience is a must. Working for the government involves placement from a civil service exam. The third job that I am interested in is an early intervention specialist. Early interventionist must have 3 hours of college credit in early childhood special education or Early Childhood development.

References

Family, F. K. (2016). Kinship Resource Center. Retrieved from Foster Kinship: Help Keep Home in the Family: http://www.fosterkinship.org/programs/kinshipnavigator/

Fund, C. D. (2016). Kinship Families. Retrieved from Childrens Defense Fund: http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy/welfare/

Gateway, C. W. (2016). Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System. Retrieved from Child Welfare Information Gateway: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f-kinshi/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

3 Early Childhood organizations in North Carolina

         1.      The Carousel Center for Abused children. This is a center is a non-profit organization in my area that provides a child-friendly environment for abused and neglected children. They also support child abuse prevention efforts in the southeastern parts of North Carolina.

         2.      Child and Family Services is a place that improves the lives of children through a partnership of community resources that promotes strong families and advocates for change.

         3.      Smart Start is an organization that is similar to Head Start. They have a common concern for and commitment to the welfare and success of children between the ages of birth to 5 years old. They also fund services in the areas of health, family support, and early childhood care and education.

         The three types of jobs that I am interested in are a family advocate/family support specialist, Kindergarten teacher, and a Developmental specialist in pediatric development. A family advocate or a family support specialist has to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or child development. Three years of at least experience in child abuse, excellent verbal and written communication skills, understand the dynamics of child abuse, legal and child welfare system. You also have to collaborate and interact well with team members from various disciplines such as law enforcement, medical, mental, Child Protective Services, and prosecutors. To be a kindergarten teacher in North Carolina you have to have a Bachelor’s or master’s degree in elementary education and also a license a birth-kindergarten license. To be a developmental specialist, you have to have a bachelor’s degree in Birth-Kindergarten education, early childhood special education, Child development, family studies, etc. Must have two years of experience on early intervention developmental specialist. They also must be eligible for Infant Toddler Family Specialist certification.

References

Center, C. &. (2016). Home. Retrieved from Children and Family Services Center: http://www.childrenfamily.org/#

Center, T. C. (2016). Home. Retrieved from The Carousel Center: http://carouselcenter.org/

Hospital, B. C. (2016). Job Description. Retrieved from Oracle: https://psappprd1.is.wfubmc.edu:8022/psp/eppro/EMPLOYEE/B_NAV_HR/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?HRS_PERSON_ID=0&PAGE=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=18084&SiteId=1

Indeed. (2016). Family Advocate. Retrieved from Grayson County Children's Advocacy Center: http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Grayson-County-Children's-Advocacy-Center/jobs/Family-Advocate-efc4229d1667a077?q=Child+Advocate

Start, S. (2016). What is Smart Start. Retrieved from New Hanover County Smart Start: http://www.newhanoverkids.org/about/what-is-smart-start/