Establishing Professional Contacts

During the course of our educational journey, it is imperative that we establish connections that will benefit not only our professional careers, but enhance the experiences of others as well.  Establishing professional connections is an easy, yet challenging task.  Connecting with people in general can be simple enough, but maintaining positive, fruitful partnerships takes time and effort. 

This week I reached out to an organization called the National Association of  Early Childhood Teacher Educators to explore new avenues of what other early childhood professionals are doing across the country.  Stay tuned to hear more on this and other professional connections throughout the next 8 weeks.

Check out the links below for EC professionals in the US and Internationally:

Early Childhood Related Websites—United States




National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies
http://www.naccrra.org/
(Newsletter: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/ )



Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/ (May have to use http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ )
(Newsletters:
http://zttcfn.pub30.convio.net/child-development/from-baby-to-big-kid/ and
http://capwiz.com/zerotothree/mlm/signup/ )


National Black Child Development Institute
http://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ )


National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/
(Newsletter: http://nieer.org/resources/newsletter/index.php )


The National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/
(Review also the position statements: http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements )


Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States
http://www.preknow.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.preknow.org/signupform.cfm )


Harlem Children’s Zone
http://www.hcz.org/
(Newsletter: http://support.hcz.org/site/PageServer?pagename=signup )


National Head Start Association
http://www.nhsa.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.nhsa.org/news_and_advocacy/advocacy/legislative_eupdate )


National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
http://www.naecte.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=29 )



The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/
(Review also the position statements: http://www.dec-sped.org/About_DEC/Position_Statements_and_Concept_Papers )



Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.childrensdefense.org/newsroom/enewsletters/ )


Center for the Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.ccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=78&Itemid=72 )


Society for Research in Child Development
http://www.srcd.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.srcd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=238&Itemid=543 )



Early Childhood Related Websites—Outside the United States


United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
(Review also the online Resources listed on the right: Selected publications, Country Profiles, or Policy Series)


Early Childhood Australia: The Australian Early Childhood Advocacy Organization
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/
(Newsletter: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/contact_us/mailing_list.html )



Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/
(Review also these online resources at: http://acei.org/knowledge/ )


European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA)
http://www.eecera.org/


The British Association for Early Childhood Education
http://www.early-education.org.uk/
(Review also these online resources: http://www.early-education.org.uk/download_leaflets.htm )


The Canadian Association for Young Children
http://www.cayc.ca/
(Review also available issues of the organization’s journal at: http://www.cayc.ca/indexjournal.html )



Early Childhood Council New Zealand (EEC)
http://www.ecc.org.nz/MainMenu
(Review also media resources at: http://www.ecc.org.nz/Category?Action=View&Category_id=159)



International Child Resource Institute
http://www.icrichild.org/
(Review also the international projects at: http://www.icrichild.org/kenya ) Click on the International Projects tab at the top to see a list of the available projects.



International Step by Step Association
http://www.issa.nl/
(Review also the databases at: http://www.issa.nl/issadatabases.html )



The Global Fund for Children
http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/
(Newsletter: http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&Itemid=340 )



Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm
(Newsletter: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXGIpI4E/b.6213813/k.4C6/eNewsletter_Sign_Up/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=8rKLIXMGIpI4E&b=6213813&en=kvlQJ4ORKhlQJ3MOKcINI4NSJfLZiOSJmLYL4OSJrK9JsJ )

MY SUPPORTS

When I think of the word "support" I think of something or someone that is strong enough to lean upon (whether figuratively or literally), to bear the weight of something or someone else;  like leaning against a tree, or standing on a table--they both give support or strength to hold up the weaker object or person.  I've shared some of my daily supports along with their benefits to me through a previous blogs – see Relationships Reflection (Channey-White, 2011).

On a daily basis, I find that I do well when I receive the support of my family, my business constituents and colleagues, as well as my proselytized religious beliefs.  In my earlier years I relied heavily upon practical supports such as written reminders and specialized lists.  Today, although I’m older and it would seem most appropriate to have things written down as reminders, I do not seem to function well with these same tools used in the past.  Now, when I write things down, I can’t remember where I put the reminder notes; therefore, they are of no use to me at all.

This week’s EDUC course assignment is to imagine a scenario that challenges my need for supports and to describe factors within my daily environment that would be supportive to me. So, let’s imagine J

IMAGINE:  If your mother was gone.

Emotionally:  Because I rely heavily upon the support of my mother, I would definitely have feelings of disconnection, uncertainty, fear of raising a child alone without her input, and depression.  I count on her for spiritual, moral, and emotional support—it is hard to imagine life without her.

Practically:   I would predictably feel as though I had no faithful, trusted, or dependable child-care provider assistance for my son, counselor/advisor for myself, or personal encouragement that I could trust to be sincere and truthful.  Whenever I am in need of respite or retreat for the purposes of regrouping and strengthening myself, I go to my mother’s or arrange for my son to spend time with her.  Practically, I do not know of anyone else that I would trust my son with; and travelling to her home was a very low-cost vacation opportunity.

Physically:   Again, mom’s house was a haven to go to for retreat to recollect, regroup, and revitalize.  Her establishment is about 1.5 acres of countryside in the southwest area of Michigan.

SUPPORTS: In her absence, I suppose that I would reach out to some of the current associations that I have right now with the Head Start Agency and Public School for helpful resources that they may have to offer me through their parent resources. 

Emotionally, I would have to strengthen my religious connection with God and surrounding faith-based organizations to participate in their family support groups.  Practically, I would reach out to my immediate and extended family members for assistance in caring for my son, as well as develop associations with peers and their parents for support.  Physically, I would try to connect with the available resources given to parents of early childhood students.  I may even pick up walking or running—good physical health helps to keep one alert and ready to stay on task. 

References

Channey-White, C. (2011, May 14). Relationships Reflection [Blog message]. Retrieved from http://eleazar-lazaros.blogspot.com/2011/05/relationships-reflection.html