Global Initiatives

The Global Children's Initiative at the Center on the Developing child; Harvard University is a very defined system designed to disseminate the importance of early childhood education to selected communities.  Founded in 2006; the intent of the program is a view that society is best when it considers the lives and education of young children.  It is believed, within their mission statement, that healthy child development benefits communities and society's.

The Global initiative has three primary objectives; To re frame public discourse about the early childhood period, To support innovative, multidisciplinary research and demonstration projects, To build leadership capacity in child development research and policy.  Within these three goals they have identified three domains to help guide the principles; early childhood development, mental health and children in crisis and conflict.

The goals and domains of this program were one important insight that I discovered.  Primarily because this program aims to work from the governments down.  The intent of this first objective is strongly advocate to "high level decision makers" the importance of early health and education.  The work is done in selected countries and communities; in this work they not only begin to help those families and children that are struggling but to the decision makers of these areas.  This objective seems to be a vital approach to the initiative as it is all encompassing.

The second important insight was the outreach services to mental health.  I myself have struggled with mental health issues most of my life and I know how difficult it can be to obtain services, treatments and support - even right here in the United States.  So, I was thrilled to know that the Harvard University initiative has a system in place to "identify the scope of the problem within and across countries and to develop evidence-based approaches in policy and service delivery that are responsive to diverse cultural contexts."

That having been said the third insight I had was a focus on the statement with in the mental health aspect of this initiative - "subject to sufficient funding."   I realized that this wonderful part of the initiative may not ever take place due to funding.  Mental health is such n important issue to address for all communities and countries and for all people - not just children.  So, to realize that, even at the Harvard University, something as important as mental health still struggles to be at the forefront of helping people, families and communities.

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/

Sharing Web Resources

My primary professional goal is to teach other adults in the field of early childhood education!  That is why I love the resources and recommended practices section of the Division for Early Childhood!  They not only provide great tips, workshops and webinars that provide me with information to share with others but, they also provide a store with books, workbooks, assessment forms, etc. to help me advocate for best/recommended practices for working with all children but also for working with children who have exceptional abilities.

I could not find anything controversial in this website.  This site is very progressive and is full of new information and resources as well as political ramifications for current trends.  Because they stay abreast of current trends, they are full of information that is beneficial to children and families and they do all that they can to incorporate that to other early childhood professionals.

This website/organization is very aware of current political activities as they relate to children who have exceptional abilities.  Their home page lists major issues that are heading to courts right now, for example a main topic on their home page states DEC Alert: Good news! Final Part C Regulations gone to OMB! and allows strong advocates to review what is being presented in the political realm of early childhood special education.

This website is all about exceptional children and spreading the news about best policies and advocating for children and families!  I love it!  And, if you haven't added it to your favorites/bookmark list yet - do it now!!

http://www.dec-sped.org

Mongolian Poverty

This weeks blog:  I have chosen to review the website www.childhoodpoverty.org.  Particularly, I have not had any luck reaching out to other early childhood professionals in other countries and I did not find any archived pod casts that were relevant to this weeks topic (that were relevant to my interests).  Therefore, I studied the state of poverty and childhood poverty in Mongolia.

The state of poverty in Mongolia is very detrimental with very little initiatives for change!  "Rapid structural adjustment" to this economy; moving from a socialist to Democratic state beginning in 1990 was a difficult transition for Mongolian families.  During this transition period unemployment rose yet social services were cut.  This of course drastically increased the amount of poverty throughout Mongolia.

The only current data for this population is from 1998 at which time 36% of the entire population lived below the poverty line.  Although new studies are underway, little improvement in this percentage is expected.

Also, due to lack of quality and quantity in health services, 30% of children under five had low height and 10% were underweight.  And, in 1998, 50% of the population did not have adequate drinking water.

Another startling revelation for this area is; because of harsh economic times, many children are working to bring home money for their families rather than going to school.  In 1990, 96% of the population was illiterate!

Initiatives to turn the tables on poverty in Mongolia are underway.  However, they are merely plans with action and progress moving very slowly.

Reviewing this information made me very sad for these families!  Due to political ramifications and changes - which they had little control over - their lives are in constant transition.  I can only hope that ultimately the changes will be for the better and one day Mongolia can reduce the struggles of their people.  This also made me very thankful to live in America!  Although we still struggle with poverty we do have services that help, there are places for families to turn and we have education systems in place to ensure that every child has access to education!

Web Resource

The organization that I choose to review for this class is the Division for Early Childhood at http://www.dec-sped.org.  The Division for Early Childhood itself, is a division of the Council for Exceptional Children at http://www.cec.sped.org.  The DEC has many goals and objectives but its primary mission is:  "The Division for Early Childhood promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities." (DEC, 2012).  They work diligently to ensure that children who are gifted or have differing abilities have all of the opportunities possible to them in their natural environments.  Additionally, they strive to be an active support system for families and professionals working in the field. (DEC, 2012).  


One current issue, located in their "What's New" section that caught my attention was a link to a website recently introduced by the U.S. Department of Education.  This Link shared with viewers/members of DEC that the U.S. Department of Education has recently created a brand new web page devoted entirely to early education.  This site can be found at www.ed.gov/early-learning.  This link is an informative site in regards to important information, resources and initiatives that directly reflect early childhood education.

Expanding Connections and Resources

I am very excited for this blog assignment this course.  I believe that being able to build relationships and build each blog assignment on the next will really help to develop the connections that we are striving for.  I have contacted two early childhood professionals one from Macedonia and one from the netherlands. 

I reviewed the Global Alliance for Early Childhood Education through NAEYC to find these great contacts!  I am a huge fan of NAEYC and think that they are at the top of their class for advocacy and creating world wide contacts.  One of the contacts that I chose works for The Foundation for Educational and Cultural Initiatives of Macedonia, this is a program that is striving for education for all!  Additionally, this program is affiliated with the International Step by Step Association with similar goals and missions.  This is where I contacted the second early childhood professional.  I have reached out to both of them via email and hope to hear from them soon.

Additionally, I have chosen to study The Division for Early Childhood.  In particular, this program is right in my neighborhood!!  I live only about three hours away from the primary office of this organization and have had the opportunity to take some amazing trainings from a few of the great advocates who work there.  I am excited to learn more about their work, their work in progress and their goals for the future based on issues and trends that effect us here at home!

I look forward to learning with all of my classmates and can't wait to hear about all the amazing connections we will make!