Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

The value that hearing such stories has for early childhood professionals, for the public, and for policymakers and government officials I feel is that you get to hear things on a personal level. It is no longer someone wrote this, or here is another policy we need to pass it becomes personal when you hear a parents story of how an early childhood program has changed their lives. Every year we have our parents write how our program has helped them with their child and what changes they have seen in their child since they started the program and we share this info with our steering committee and with state officials. It also helps them understand the importance of keeping these programs in place for the children and families.
My opinion regarding why or why not parent/family involvement is an essential system element for all strands of service in the early childhood field is that parents need to be very involved in what their children are doing at school, if not the child feels you don't care and the teacher thinks you have no interest. Parent involvement is extremely essential it helps in the child's development.

Quality Programs for all Children

I believe that in the United States providing quality services for young children and families is seen as important and has grown to be of great concern over the years, but more can always be done. In my state early childhood education is extremely important! The implementation of a tier program to help private providers and other early child care workers become educated and reimbursed has been started. Lots of research is being done through Judy Centers (where I work) on statistics that tell us how better off children are who have had early childhood experiences opposed to those who have not had it. These statistics are conducted every year and looked at by policy makers in the state.

I hope that the public is able to see the importance and I would love to see changes over the next five years to help those private providers become better at what they do and align with the school systems to prepare children to be ready at 5. I think changes in public opinion will influence early childhood strands of service, systems and policies and advocacy because people will begin to advocate. They will see the importance of providing quality services to young children and their families.  Young children and families will be better off and working towards goals set by themselves and by the state.

What Resonates With You About Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy?

I choose this specialization because I have always wanted to help young children in some way or another. I found out that I did not necessarily like being in a classroom all day but wanted to help children in some way. Public Policy and Advocacy helps me to understand that I can be a  voice for the children and fight for their rights. I have always wanted my own daycare center and I figured in a small way I could begin by helping those who come through my door.
Becoming a skilled and confident advocate is crucial for the early childhood professionals and for the field because there are so many laws being put in place by people who have never even worked with children or have them themselves. I think it is important for those who work day in and day out with children to become advocates for them. Advocates are essential because our children can’t speak for themselves they need someone who is skilled and confident to advocate for them on their behalf.
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I would like to learn how to become a skilled and confident advocate.
I would like to find out more about public policy and how you can get your voice heard.
I would also like to learn what is most important now in the field that needs to be advocated.