Thank You & Good Luck

At least three deeply felt learnings from this program 1. I have learned that having a Community of Practice can provide you with a support system and ears to run your ideas by. You will get honesty opinions about your ideas because this group of people share the same interest and maybe they have the same passion as you do. 2. That I have to learn new ways of getting parents involved in the program. 3. Never give up on my dreams and find different ways to de-stress so that I will not burn out in a field that I love. At least one long-term goal 1. One long term goal that I have is making my challenge into reality. A farewell message to your Instructor and colleagues It has been a pleasure working with my classmates throughout our program. I have learned so much from them. I feel that they were an important Community of Practice for me. A few months after starting my program I was diagnosed with arthritis and chronic pain. I say this so that my classmates know that they helped me in to keep going. We never know what another person is going through but in some of my classes we did share personal information and just knowing that others were having their own struggles kept me going. I felt that I was also given a great amount of support from my Instructors also. Thank you all! It has been a wonderful experience and I wish you all the best in your future.

I saw the above photo posted on Facebook and it is something that we all need to remember to keep our passion for the Early Childhood field alive.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Three international organizations or communities of practice that appealed to you and why you chose them 1. Save The Children: I chose save the children because of how they started out in the US in 1932 provide clothing, school supplies and hot lunches to school children in Harlan County, Kentucky and by 1938 they had expanded to Europe and was providing clothing, food, blankets and medicine to children displaced by World War II in Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany and Italy. They have no boundaries, they provide for children all over the world and their goal is to make sure that children have what they need and to provide children relief and a sense of security after a major disaster. http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6229507/k.C571/History.htm 2. Free The Children: Free The Children is an international charity and educational partner that believes in a world where all children are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. Since 1995 Free The Children has provided 45+ countries with programming and building projects. 55,000 children with education. 650+ schools and school rooms built. $16,000,000+ worth of medical supplies around the world. 30,000 women with economic self-sufficiency. 1,000,000 people with clean water, health care and sanitation. This is why I chose Free The Children. http://www.freethechildren.com/ 3. UNICEF-Early Childhood: UNICEF works with governments, civil society, communities and other stakeholders to design and implement inter-sectoral evidence-based ECD programmes and policies that help young children reach their full potential by supporting families and communities, and by increasing access to quality early childhood care and education. I chose UNICEF-Early Childhood because they understand that in order for a child to develop to their full potential you have to offer services to the whole family. If a family is not thriving then their children will not thrive because of worry and fear about their family. http://www.unicef.org/earlychildhood/ Three job opportunities that interest me and the skills and experience that is needed for them. 1. Associate Faculty, Child Development Early Childhood Education Requirements: Master's degree in child development, early childhood education, human development, home economics/family and consumer studies with a specialization in child development/early childhood education, or educational psychology with a specialization in child development/early childhood education OR bachelor's degree in any of the above AND Master's degree in social work, educational supervision, elementary education, special education, psychology, bilingual/bicultural education, life management/home economics, family life studies, or family and consumer studies 2. Foster Care Counselor Requirements: A Master's degree in a social services discipline is required Degrees that can be considered include: social work, drug and alcohol education or counseling, psychology, criminal justice, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy. Other degrees will have to be evaluated further to determine if they meet the qualifications. One year experience counseling adolescents in a clinical setting Experience with the Foster Care System is preferred Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously Basic computer knowledge Ability to maintain a flexible schedule You must have your own vehicle to use for work purposes as well as have liability insurance 3. Family Intervention Specialist Requirements A Master's degree in a social services discipline is preferred A Bachelor's degree in a social services discipline is required Degrees that can be considered include: social work, drug and alcohol education or counseling, psychology, criminal justice, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy. Other degrees will have to be evaluated further to determine if they meet the qualifications. Experience in a clinical counseling or case management setting Strong organizational skills and attention to detail Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously Basic computer knowledge Ability to maintain a flexible schedule