Exploring
Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels
The three organizations that
were of interest to my study of families living in extreme poverty or homeless
were Saint Vincent DePaul, Arizona Migrant Head Start, and First Things First. These three organizations are in my local
area of service in Arizona.
Saint Vincent DePaul is a charity
organization that is located throughout the nation (Stvincentdepaul, 2012). They operate on donations and volunteer
helpers. They offer a large range of
services that help not only those who are experiencing a hard time financially
but services for individuals and families of those incarcerated in the prison system.
This organization appeals to me because
of the large number of services they provide.
They provide these services for those who have no other avenue and they
serve in a caring, nonjudgmental, and supportive manner.
Arizona Migrant Head Start, this
section of Head Start focuses on migrant farm workers (AZ Migrant/Head Start,
2012). These workers move from area to
area in order to work the farms.
Families work long hours and often have to resort to lower quality
childcare do to financial hardships. The
Migrant Head Start takes the children from these families and works with them
for the time they may be in the area. They
educate and serve the families in many areas such as oral health education,
family literacy, and mental health services.
They use a team approach in working with not only the children but the
whole family. They promote school
readiness skills for children ages 0-5 (AZ Migrant/Head Start, 2012). This organization appeals to me because I
living in a high migrant population area and would like to know how to better
serve families who are migrant workers.
First Things First is an Arizona
based program that promotes education, healthcare, and family support to all
families (First Things First, 2012).
They support the families in their native language and culture. Offer access to a multitude of services such
as oral health, early screenings, nutrition, mental health, and injury
prevention. They provide parent
education, services to help you find the right childcare for your child,
scholarships, etc (First Things First, 2012).
This is a state funded program that is open to anyone who wants to take
advantage of the program. This program
appeals to me in that it promotes parent education as well as school readiness
skills for children.
One job that is currently open is for Center Service Manager III for the AZ Migrant Head Start program Chicanos Por La Causa. The qualifications that I would need would be Bachelors in Education, experience in an early childhood setting, and administrative experience. I would have to be able exhibit leadership abilities, multitask and have knowledge in the areas of program management, finances, computer skills, and Head Start procedures and protocol.
Resources
Arizona Migrant/Early Head Start-Chicanos por la Causa, Inc.
(2012). The Arizona Migrant & Head Start Program. Retrieved from www.cplc.org/education/arizona-migrant-early-head-start.aspx
First Things First. (2012). Ready for School Set for Life.
Retrieved from www.azftf.gov
St. Vincent de Paul Charity Phoenix. (2012). Voice of the
Poor. Retrieved from www.stvincentdepaul.net
Leslie,
ReplyDeleteWow, those sound like exceptionally great websites that are really beneficial for children and families. I think every state should have those three organizations as well as many others that promote quality and appropriate environments for children. You really found some great resources! Thanks!!
Leslie,
ReplyDeleteI wish the state of Mississippi had such great resources for families and children. Money is very limited in our State. We do work with what we have to provide quality programs for our children. Hopefully in the near future we can provide some of the great resources your state has for your children and families,
It is really interesting to read about what services and support are available in other states, as well as programs that are available across the nation such as Head Start and St. Vincent de Paul. Your focus on poverty and homelessness is such an important issue and it sounds like your state is working to support families in these conditions. I look forward to reading more about your study in the coming weeks!
ReplyDelete