Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The Partnership for Children of Johnston County

http://www.pfcjc.org/index.php

This organization appeals to me because they work in all aspects of the early childhood field.  They help daycares prepare and pass the Environmental Rating Scale (NC quality assessment program) in order to gain fie star status.  They also hold parent, teacher, and safety trainings throughout the year.  They help parents find childcare and they run a resource library that loans materials to families, homeschool programs, and daycares.  The partnership also has early intervention specialists who can assist families and daycares in getting a child with special needs the accommodations and assistance they require. 

There is one person at the partnership who’s job it is to visit the local family childcare homes and offer help and resources to improve the quality of the program.  This person can help with the paperwork when applying to be a licensed home as well as do a mock rating scale assessment to determine what needs to change to gain more stars.  At the moment this position is filled, but I would love to have this job one day.  In order to fulfill this job, I would need:

·      Good communication and people skills

·      An extensive knowledge of area resources and the quality rating scale criteria

·      The ability to look at a program from an unbiased view

Childcare Services Association

http://www.childcareservices.org/

This organization helps support those of us who work I the childcare field, teachers, directors, administrators, etc.  They offer trainings for childcare providers; including nutrition and safety trainings.  The main reason I picked this organization though is because of two specific programs they support, T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$.  T.E.A.C.H. is a scholarship program that helps people working in the childcare field further their education.  For the childcare credential course, required in NC to be a lead teacher, they cover 100% of the tuition and even give a stipend to help pay for travel or a substitute, if needed.  Sadly, they do not offer scholarships for master’s students.  WAGE$ is salary supplement program that awards early childhood professionals a semi-annual bonus based on your level of education.  For those of you who have not heard of it, WAGE$ is available in NC, FL, KA, and NM. For each these programs you have to have worked in a program for six consecutive months before being eligible.  For the WAGE$ program you have to work six consecutive months before receiving each bonus.   I love how they are addressing the teacher turnover rate with this stipulation. 

North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.ncaeyc.org/

This is the local chapter of the NAEYC.  It appeals to me because they continuously work to improve the early childhood field.  Every year, the NCAEYC holds a weekend childcare convention that not only provides excellent training but allows members of the field to network and learn about area resources. 

Sadly, there is no NCAEYC affiliate in my county.  Heading up such an affiliate is another job I am interested in.  I am unsure if this is a paid position or simply voluntary, either way I would like to work towards starting an affiliate in my county after I complete my Walden program.  Skills I would need include:

·      High level of competency with technology

·      Advocacy skills

·      Effective communication skills

·      Knowledge of the NAEYC accreditation process