Thursday, January 26, 2012

Sharing Web Resources (continued)

National Black Childhood Development website


*Particularly relevant information:
While exploring the National Black Childhood Development website, I found the 'news' tab to be the most insightful. Under the 'news' tab there was an article featured by the name of, "Let's Move: Child Care State Challenge", one way to promote healthy childhood development is to ensure that exercise and healthy eating is a part of the lives of families and children. Currently, at my school we are promoting an initiative by the name of "Junk the Junk food" this article helped me to provide children and families with facts that coincide with the program.


*Controversial Issue:
While I did not find any specific controversial issues, I did find it peculiar that it was hard to find information on how to become involved, locally. One of the suggestions I may later post to the site is to include a variety of local community/neighborhood activities that our society can become involved in.


*Economists, Politicians, Neuroscientists information:
While exploring the site I began to recognize how much financial support is available for early childhood programs and initiatives. I mentioned above the NBCD's effort to bring awareness to Healthy habits. Well, the NBCD gained financial support from Sam's Club/Walmart in the amount of $300,00 to support this initiative. I can definitely learn much of these tips on gaining support and resources to support a great cause.


*New insights and trends:
As we all know, February is Black History Month, although, I know the names of many African Americans that lent a hand in building this country, I began to read upon the people and bios that I have yet to hear of. For example, I learned of, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who founded Providence Hospital in Chicago in the year of 1889.


National Black Child Development Institute. (2012, January 14). Mission, publications, history, initiatives, news, affiliates. Retrieved from http://nbcdi.org/

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 1



Podcast: I had the pleasure of listening to an interview with Susan Lyons an educator who wasinspired about the different facets in which children learn. She studied abroad, specifically in Italy and learned about how language affects children throughout the world. She brought back this in depth information and enlightened educators in the United States, focusing in her hometown of California. She implemented school programs for teachers and children, and focused on improving the quality of education in public schools. She started the project 10 years ago and is excited to say that her ventures paid off. Children are learning as never before and teachers are teaching with new innovative information and language tools that has never been utilized before. Susan Lyons takes pride in her work as an EC professional and continues to delight in impacting children and families around the globe.



Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s Insights: I decided to look at how poverty affects the society of the country of China. It was enlightening to find that the poverty has decreased in recent years. The site attributes this decline to "far-reaching processes of economic and social transition  " (Child Poverty Research and Policy Insights, 2012). Information also states that the country of China receives the most money from economic dealings and trade, except for the US. For the country, this could be good and bad, meaning the country's inhabitants are limited by the hold the country has put upon investment and employment. As far as childhood poverty is concerned, "4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions" (Child Poverty Research and Policy Insights, 2012). Life expectancy for infants at birth is 71 years of age.

While navigating the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre's Insight, I found an interesting quote, "Deepening understanding of the main causes of childhood poverty and poverty cycles, and increasing knowledge of effective strategies to tackle them in different contexts" (Child Poverty Research and Policy Insights, 2012). This quote rings true, my understanding has deepened to the point of advocacy. Not only do I feel as if I must take a stance as an EC professional, but I must stand because I am a human that values life.

Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. (2012, January 19). CHIP activities, International, country overviews. Retrieved from: http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

Saturday, January 14, 2012

SHARING WEB RESOURCES



National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org/



Since 1970, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has remained steadfast in its mission –“To improve and advance the lives of black children and their families through education and advocacy.” With a focus on early childhood education, child welfare, elementary and secondary education, and health, the Institute accomplishes this mission by:
1)      Serving as a vital information resource to all individuals who work directly with children, in particular child care professionals, educators, parents, social workers and academicians; and
2)      Providing direct services at the local level through its nationwide affiliate network composed of volunteers, who work in concert with the Institute to improve child welfare services, provide access to universal early care and education, build family support services, and provide vital information on children’s health. (National Black Child Development Institute [NBCDI], 2012).


Issue/Trend:

I was astonished by the level of success this organization has achieved:

  • Conducting a landmark study on children in foster care which resulted in subsequent progressive national policies;
  •  Advocating successfully for progressive adoption policies and subsidies that permitted older and single parents to adopt;
  • Working successfully to create public policy and influence legislation that directly affects the lives of African American children by testifying before Congress on every significant child care bill from the Comprehensive Child Development Act of 1970, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the School Construction Act of 1999 to the Consequences for Juvenile Offenders Act of 1999 and orchestrating a special hearing on parenting in 2000;
  •  Working to gain public support to provide access to universal early care and education which has become a priority for governors in more than half of the states;
  •  Promoting publicly supported quality child care programs for mothers who were entering the work force in increased numbers, resulting in the enactment and special allocation of funds by a substantial number of states for child care; 
  •  Implementing and expanding a community based nationwide intervention/prevention program entitled Entering the College Zone from five to twenty five cities to get more disadvantage middle school students on the college track;
  •  Providing leadership to agencies like the National Institute of Health (NIH) to decrease health disparities; and 
  • Building and nurturing partnerships with organizations ranging from the National Education Association (NEA), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a number of corporations like, United Parcel Service (UPS), Proctor and Gamble (P&G), State Farm Insurance Companies, and government agencies like the National Institute of Health (NIH)
(National Black Child Development Institute [NBCDI], 2012).

******I always hear about the overall accomplishments of other renowned Child Development Agencies/Associations,  but I seldom hear about what other cultures (specifically my own) are doing to further healthy development in children and families...

National Black Child Ddevelopment Institute. (2012, January 14). About, mission, initiatives, history. Retrieved from http://nbcdi.org/

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Getting Started: Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources



When reading the criteria for this weeks Blog Assignment, I felt rather leery about contacting individuals I do not know. Although, I know this is a part of professionalism, my choice would be to become contacted through a trusted individual or organization, I personally know. Nevertheless, I did get connected to the World Forum Radio, and subscribed to the podcasts via my itunes and I also had the pleasure of listening to an episode that featured a man by the name of, Barnabas Otaala, Dean of Education at Uganda's Martyrs University. Mr. Otaala spoke about the children of the village where he lived and their experience with HIV/AIDS. 

The episode was extremely enlightening on how HIV/AIDS is one of the largest topics regarding childhood development and family issues in the African region. Barnabas Otaala spoke about the respect that villagers have for doctors and how doctors need to have a better relationship with villagers to gain more insight on this devastating disease. He spoke on the need for all of us to pay attention to the needs of children.

Following the podcast episode, I looked for Mr. Otaala's e-mail but could not locate it. But, I continued to search for more information on him, the university and the matter of HIV/AIDS in the town of Uganda. I was able to go to the University website and explore and I even strolled upon a newsletter the University's Press produced. The newsletter featured, professor and dean Barnabas Otaala and even featured a quote that stated, "the Faculty ofEducation at Uganda Martyrs’University, had in some effective way, started to address develop-mental issues, including those of HIV and AIDS, and Special Needs Education" (Zalwango, 2010).

I definitely plan to utilize the World Forum Radio in the future. As far as expanding my resources, I browsed around at the websites provided on the Blog resources page and found interest in the website for the National Black Child Development Institute. While all of the other resources were phenomenal, I just think that this institution and website benefits me the most. I signed up for free information and newsletters and really look forward to immersing myself in the information that the service provides.

National Black Child Development Institute. (2011, January 7). Home, about, newsletters initiatives, affiliates, support. Retrieved from: http://nbcdi.org/

Zalwango, Amelia. (2010, August). Inaugural Lecture. Uganda Martyrs University Newsletter, 17(1). Retrieved from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61365262/Uganda-Martyrs-University-Newsletter-2010-1