Sharing Web Resources: NAEYC

Throughout this week I have been exploring the NAEYC website.  In the newsroom sections and found and article under the press releases that caught my attention.  Senator Casey introduced the NAEYC’s recommendations to strengthen the birth to third grade.  The Continuum of Learning Act is part of the Call to Action written for the 112 Congress.  If you are interested in reading the full Call to Action Report follow this link:  http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/policy/federal/Call_Action_112(2).pdf

It addresses the need for high quality early childhood education which includes well – trained staff and educators, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and services that support children’s health, nutrition and social well – being (p.2)This report is for our politicians to consider when they  make decisions about funding programs.  It also addresses how states and communities can help.  This report has covered everything we have been talking about this week, the impact of economists, science and politicians.  The NAEYC used information from the economists, scientists and politicians to help explain the need for high quality care and raise an awareness of the importance of all domains including the social /emotional and approaches to learning that children need throughout their elementary years. 

I am excited to learn more about the tiers of the QRIS and how it will help create high quality learning environments for all children.             

Getting to Know My International Contacts

I have not had any responses to many emails I sent out.  So this week I went to UNICEF’s web site and listened to the global radio service, they have many archived interviews with correspondence around the world.  

What I am finding the most interesting is the realization that to reduce poverty we need to look at the whole child, family, community.  The care needs to be comprehensive and the interventions need to be an opportunity to teach.  In the podcast Mr. Morgan commented that 9 million children die before the age of five, and this is the lowest on record.  Sub-Sahara and South Asia are still among the highest countries where children are dying. The children who are missing out on the potential care are found in rural areas, city slums, girls, and the poorest communities.  According to R. Morgan the best approaches to ensuring better living conditions is an integrated package where families receive medicine and vaccinations, advice, and an outreach to the communities from the clinics and outposts which bring a network of services(Chevighy & Morgan, 2010). 

One service is community sanitization. This service brings the community together and discusses how they can improve hygiene and sanitation.  They look at where the fecal matter is and look and changes, they also discuss hand washing and body hygiene. The concern is the global economic down fall which has challenged programs to look at new policies and interventions that will help these poorest nations.  The recommendation is cash supplements because it seem to be the most effective and affordable way to continue the services.

References:

Chevighy, B. (Director), & Morgan, R. (Performer) (2010, September 12). Equity in child survival: An opportunity to do things better. UNICEF. [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/unidef-podcast/id77700259

Sharing Web Resources: OMEP: World Organization for Early Childhood Education

 The organizations focus is advocacy for children locally, nationally, and internationally. They are associated with the United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Health Organization.  The goal of OMEP is to “ensure the wellbeing, rights, and education of children (0-8) and their families in the U.S.A. and around the world – today and in the future.” They are working for healthy, peaceful, equitable, sustainable, and just environments for the children today and in the future.

Website:  http://omep-usnc.org/

In the newsletter one of the issues that caught my attention is the initiative to adapt UNICEF’s WASH hands in Schools. OMEP has 4-6 pilot projects called WASH from the Start. It will teach early childhood educators and the children about water safety, sanitation and hygiene so fewer children will miss school.   It will promote access to healthy water supplies.  This caught my attention because when I was in Honduras I watched teachers check every child’s hands to make sure they were clean, if they were not clean the teacher sent them back to the bathroom.  Below is a picture I took during my visit.

Expanding Resources

 I started to look at who I would like to contact internationally I immediately thought  Central America. I have been there on two mission trips, one to Costa Rica and the other to Honduras.  During my trip to Honduras I went to a school where children from Preschool to high school where being taught.  The Pre-k – elementary grade children went during the morning until midday and the older children went midday to evening.  The opportunity to make a connection with another professional from Central America to gain new insight, and learn about their struggles and accomplishments will benefit me during my future visits.  Unfortunately, the email for the Honduran Global Alliance did not work.  I was able to send an email to the president of OMEP. I am waiting to hear back if she can connect me with anyone or if she would be willing to share with me her work. Through Global Alliance I was able to send an email to  the OMEP leader in Costa Rica, and am waiting a response.  So if anyone reading this blog has another avenue I can take, please share.               

As I was working through the Global Alliance website, I found myself at the home Website of OMEP- USA.  This site is one of more than sixty national committees /chapters that are working toward a better life for children.  The pictures on the home page caught my eye and drew me in to see what they support and work toward.  They have a newsletter but I haven’t found where to sign up for one, there is one for September of 2011.   

If you would like to visit there website it is: http://omep-usnc.org/