One of the reasons I chose to study policy and advocacy within the early childhood field is because of the changing face of the field. With more and more global emphasis being placed on the value of young children and their families, I felt it would be most beneficial to focus my graduate studies within the realm of the changing policies, in order to learn how to grow my own voice on behalf of these communities. Working currently as a classroom teacher, I have found that my studies thus far have not only supported the growth of my relationships with the young children I teach, but have also allowed for me to speak out on behalf of my own “best practice,” and also when working to foster collaborative relationships with parents and colleagues alike.
Becoming a skilled and confident advocate is crucial for early childhood professionals and for the field because we speak on behalf of so many different sub communities. We speak on behalf of young children whom do not yet have a voice. We speak on behalf of parents, whom are working to find their new role in the world, and bring up positive, productive members of society. We also speak on behalf of our communities, working to grow positive relationships across all peoples. In order to do so effectively, we must learn the complexities of cultural differences, the skills necessary to mediate and collaborate, and do so all while understanding the general structure of the legalities of the systems in which we function and for which we seek to improve. There is so much worth fighting for, and within the clear confident voice we have been working so hard to build, we may not be able to sway the public to see the same crucial nature of our work.
Public Policy & Advocacy Goals
-I hope to understand the legal process of how financial funding is created and allocated. Specifically, I would like to understand the various processes schools and child care centers can go through in order to increase and/or maintain funding.
-I hope to learn the different roles one can take when working to pass specific legislation. Specifically, I would like to know how I could directly contribute to passing specific legislation such as bills providing school meals (breakfast/lunch) to low in/at risk children.
-I hope to learn of new organizations that work in full force to impact specific sub-communities within the field. I am hoping to learn of not only the work that is being done across the globe, but also specifically what organizations exist within my own state, and the ways in which I can become involved with their work.
