Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Three organizations that have appealed to me for many years and some job opportunities that interests me…

Ø  The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children birth to eight years of age. They are also the voice of high-quality early childhood education for young children. I love the NAEYC because it is a place I can go and get up-to-date information on publications and professional development trainings. I also really enjoy the NAEYC for families’ sites that give families up-to-date information on children’s learning and development. Even though the main office is in Washington, DC there is an off branch for Kentucky which is Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education

The Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education has a position called WAYS AND MEANS which oversee KAECE fund raising activities, order Board approved items to sell, maintain KAECE display boards, set up KAECE displays at early care and education functions, oversee the Conference Silent Auction and secure members to be stationed at the Silent Auction and KAECE exhibit, maintain and update a current inventory of revenue generating materials, and attend Annual KAECE Conference and assist as needed. This position is not available but I am interested because I love creating and set up displays. I have also worked for a college professor in an early childhood department and I was responsible to oversee and maintain inventory resource materials.

Ø  First Steps is a statewide early intervention system that provides services to children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 3 and their families. First Steps is Kentucky's response to the federal Infant-Toddler Program. First Steps offers comprehensive services through a variety of community agencies and service disciplines and is administered by the Department for Public Health in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. I choice this organization because I currently work with First Steps and I see a need to promote First Steps to the community.

First Steps are always in need for service providers like Developmental Interventionist, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Psychical Therapist. For a Developmental Interventionist our skills and experience require are a Bachelor degree along with teacher certification and a background working with young children. I provide activities for families to do with their child on a daily routine to improve their child’s developmental progress.

Ø   Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Division of Child Care is a division that provides leadership in building high quality, community based access to child care and early learning that enhances health, safety, permanency, well-being and self-sufficiency for Kentucky’s children and families. Division of Child Care works towards increasing quality child care that is developmentally appropriate, affordable, healthy, and safe for all children and families. Their vision is engaging families and community partners in collaborative decision making for early care and education.

At this time there are no positions available but I would be interested in Child Care Licensing Specialist. The site did not list any employment opportunity so I contacted the Director of the Division of child care and she sent me an email on what they look for when there are position available. This site was also very hard to navigate to find employment. Skills and experiences the director emailed me back includes knowledge of the child care regulations and a minimal 2 years working in a child care setting or a BA in early childhood or MA in Education or Social Services. I have always wanted to be a part of those who put children and families first to provide a healthy safe environment for children to learn and play.
 

References:

First Steps: http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/firstSteps/default.htm

Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education: http://www.kaece.org/

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: http://chfs.ky.gov