Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Upon glancing at a few communities of practice from a global perspective, I found that UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) has many opportunities for employment in several countries and in the US. The main purpose of UNESCO is to reach Island Communities and developing countries to educate, socialize, reduce poverty, recognize culture to bring world peace, and to communicate with cultures to bring all of these aspects into communities. " UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information" (UNESCO, n.d. p.2).

            Africa and Gender Equality are amongst the most prioritized issues that UNESCO is currently working towards. " Girls account for more than half of the world’s out-of-school children" (UNESCO, n.d. p.6).  This statistic tells us that if we educate females in other countries, the poverty rate can decreases significantly because girls can acquire the skills that they need to obtain employment.

            Employment opportunities are beneficial for those who want to make a change for the betterment of culture, society, and the reduction of poverty and other issues affecting people in the world. This position interested me because of the opportunity to visit Paris, where the UNESCO Headquarters are and the opportunity to live there to take on the task of being an effective advocate and leader towards helping the underserved populations of the world. Salaries are generous and they are based on the term of the job positions.

The job skills needed for this position are composed of an internship position from 2-6 months and this is where we learn to be part of the team at UNESCO and learn their philosophies about helping others in the world." Applicants must be undertaking studies in areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence (namely, education, culture, sciences, communication and social sciences) or in other areas which support UNESCO’s work (such as law, human resource management, management studies, international relations, etc.)" (UNESCO, n.d. para.4).

The url for becoming an intern is as follows: http://en.unesco.org/careers/internships.

 the salary handbook has a direct link:

https://en.unesco.org/careers/sites/careers/files/HRM_brochure2013.pdf.

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is another global organization that strives for families and children. They work towards education, nutrition, diversity, health, and child protection. This organization has made many efforts to help those who suffer from nature's devastation such as flooding, earthquakes, and various other disasters. They also help with health issues such as HIV/AIDS which strikes many population such as those in high populated areas like AFRICA and ASIA. By helping people receive treatment, raise awareness, and provide safe alternatives, UNICEF can prevent global devastations such as illness and death.

The home site and about us section for UNICEF is as follows:

http://www.unicef.org/whatwedo/

This organization appealed to me because of the tremendous efforts that they do to save families and children. By protecting families, UNICEF can make children's life easier because they can receive early care and protection through the global efforts that UNICEF provides.

I looked at job offers for UNICEF and I found these:

Nutrition Specialist	P-3	Syrian Arab Republic	Damascus	Nutrition	16-Dec-13
Chief of Communication	P-5	China	Beijing	Communication (External Relations)	27-Dec-13
Nutrition Specialist	P-3	Tanzania, United Rep. of	Dar-es-Salaam	Nutrition	10-Dec-13
Chief Community Development	P-4	Cambodia	Phnom-Penh	Programme Management	09-Dec-13
Chief HIV AIDS	P-4	Malawi	Lilongwe	HIV/AIDS	11-Dec-13
Chief Field Office	P-4	Uganda	Moroto	Programme Management	16-Dec-13

(UNICEF, n.d. Employment at UNICEF).

There are so many more positions to choose from as well. They even have volunteer positions, short--term positions, internships, and chief positions. I like the fact that UNICEF has a variety of efforts that we can choose from. This makes it a wonderful experience to be able to be a part of a team that makes such a great impact on the world's children and their families.

This is the job link for UNICEF:

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

A third organization that I researched about was from the March of Dimes website. This organization is a wonderful opportunity to help mother's and pregnant women learn about nutrition, pregnancy, early screening, genetic disorders, birth defects, early births, and many other measures to help a women maintain a healthy pregnancy. "The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. It was founded by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to combat polio"(March of Dimes, 2013, pg.1). This organization helps teen moms, mothers and older mothers on the benefits of eating healthy and maintaining healthy nutrition during pregnancy. They also strive to research about certain risks and issues to help those who need assistance.  

I chose to research the March of Dimes site because the early years of a child's development is important just as their beginnings of the life cycle are important. By creating a healthy environment for the pregnant woman, we can ensure a reduced risk of low- birth weight, premature, sick or still born babies.

The March of Dimes has many opportunities for employment across the country as well as at their national headquarters. They have career positions and internship positions to benefit all those who are interested. Their career link is as follows:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/careers.aspx

I found a job posting for a State Director of Program Services, Phoenix, AZ and the requirement is a Masters degree and a list of job duties are included at:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/careers/job-search.aspx

I think of all of the wonderful opportunity to work for an organization in the country of USA or another country in the world to make a difference and impact in the lives of young children is an amazing feat. I think to be able to look at a helpless family and to completely change their world is such a wonderful accomplishment and contribution to society and to families. I would love to make that mark on society.

References

March of Dimes. (2013). "Pregnancy" Retrieved December 7, 2013 from. 

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy.aspx

UNESCO, (n.d.). Retrieved from. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001887/188700e.pdf

UNESCO, (n.d). "UNESCO Careers" Retrieved from. http://en.unesco.org/careers/internships

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2013 from http://www.unicef.org/

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Week 4 Blog

            First 5 is a California based program which offers curriculum development, training, and early literacy developments for children early stages in life. FIRST  5 California's start came from Proposition 10 where a 50 cent tax on all tobacco purchases go into the State program's fund "...to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and ready to learn alongside their peers as they enter kindergarten" (FIRST 5 California, 2010, para.3). They also help families, children, and the elderly to receive access to healthcare, jobs, nutrition, childcare, and many other supportive services.

            The first 5 years are a tremendous time for brain development and overall development and growth in children.  I researched job opportunities for FIRST 5 and I found a position for a Deputy Director, External and Governmental Affairs, CEA (Career Executive Assignment) Level A. The job duties for this position is as follows:

"The Deputy Director, External and Governmental Affairs, will plan, organize, and direct the

departmental legislative and county technical assistance programs for legislative affairs and

communications as defined in the California Children and Families Act of 1998 (Act) utilizing

First 5 California’s Strategic Plan, the State Administrative Manual, Department of Finance and

California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) rules and regulations, and Microsoft Office

applications" (First 5 California, 2010,para. 3).

            The reason that I chose to research FIRST 5 is because they are California based which is where my focus for my project will originate. Also, they have a similar mission to help reach children early on, during the most fundamental times of their development ages 0-5. by obtaining a safe and healthy environment to grow and learn.

the url is

http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/about/about_default.html

            PATH is a global initiative where health is their  number one concern. They strive to make access to  healthcare easy for people all around the world. PATH's mission is as follows:

            "We advance health equity in the belief that no child should die of a preventable disease, that all mothers should have safe births and healthy newborns, and that every community should have the tools it needs to thrive" (PATH, 2013,para. 2).

            PATH is a non-profit organization that devises medicine, drugs, vaccines, and innovations to help families survive. They have innovative technology that detects diseases and if medications go bad or get damaged by heat exposure or freezing temps. (PATH, 2013, para.5).

            I checked out career opportunities for PATH and they are always welcoming enthusiastic and dedicated people. They have a career site with many job opportunities including internships and they even have an option to submit A resume to be put into their database to see if there are qualifying positions for the applicant.

 The URL for job opportunities is:

https://path.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.welcome&category_id=105081&company_id=15780&version=1&startflag=1&parent=PATH%27s%20Internship%20Opportunities&levelid1=105081

            The reason PATH became a part of my Community of Practice is due to the fact that they are a global organization that has received a Forbes' top list of charities and they work to ensure the health of children and families.

The url is for PATH is:

http://www.path.org/about/index.php

            A third resource dedicated to families and children is The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This governmental program supports children, elderly, and disabled and Military Families through cash assistance, food assistance, health assistance, healthcare information, and Safety. Their mission is to put food on the table, provide jobs, and many other assistances to help families lead healthy and safe lifestyles. They even help families find childcare and obtain childcare. "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. para.2).

I looked into prospective job offerings and found that there is job section on their website. the job link is as follows:

https://www.usajobs.gov/.

HHS is a wonderful community of Practice for me because their mission is mostly the same as mine.  I want to put food on the table, offer childcare, and help people find jobs, as well as help anyone in my community to find resources and obtain the basic human necessities in order to provide for their families.

The URL for HHS is:

http://www.hhs.gov/about/.

References

FIRST 5 California. (2010). "About FIRST 5 California" Retrieved from.

            http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/about/about_default.html.

HHS.gov. The Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.) "About HHS" Retrieved from.

            http://www.hhs.gov/about/.

PATH, (1995-2013). "Driving Transformative Innovation to Save Lives" Retrieved (November

            22, 2013) from. http://www.path.org/about/index.php. 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Two local agencies that could definitely be my community of practice is the local WIC office in the city of Yucca Valley, Ca, The local Salvation Army in Yucca Valley, and a third one that could definitely be a community of practice for me that is focused on a state level is The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust in Overland Park, Kansas.

            These communities of practice are a part of my interest because they all serve communities by offering nutrition, clothing, financial help, and other supportive services. The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust in Overland, Kansas appeals to me because they seem to be able to help me with my church project with the Good Samaritan project that we are trying to develop. The Harry J Lloyd Trust offers grants that help start ministries, expand programs, and funds Christian programs.

            The local WIC program offers Women, Infants, and Children healthy nutrition, classes, and information and brochures about healthy eating habits. This is offered to low-income families and pregnant women who need it.

            WIC is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children.  WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services.  Participants must meet income guidelines and be pregnant women, new mothers, infants or children under age five.  In California, 84 WIC agencies provide services locally to over 1.45 million participants each month at over 650 sites throughout the State (California Department of Public Health, 2013).  

            The Salvation Army is an organization that offers food, shelter, jobs, clothing, and many other assistances for poor and low-income families. This organization appeals to me because it can help provide assistance and programs for families in my program to utilize to receive assistance.

The URL's for these organizations are as follows:

WIC

http://www.sbcounty.gov/dph/wic/

The Salvation Army

http://www.salvationarmy.org/

The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust

http://www.hjltrust.com/

Job opportunities for each include mostly volunteer positions, but the WIC Agency is a State ran program. The agency website url is http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/statealpha.htm.

Upon obtaining a state job, a test needs to be taken with a minimum of 70% for each section and the applicant needs to must possess  these qualifications for an Administrative Assistant I:

Either,

            Twelve months of work experience in the California state service performing staff work in a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to that of Junior Staff Analyst, Range B, or Staff Services Analyst, Range B.

Or:

            Eighteen months of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Executive Secretary I ( California Department of Human Resources, 2013).

This position interests me because the monthly income is 3,000-4,000 a month and I can work under an administrator to gain new knowledge and serve him or her under their direction.

            In conclusion, I think these organizations can help me with my challenge to get families the support they need and the knowledge that organizations exist to assist them. With the help from the community, qualified families can get a head start on the road to success because the most basic needs can be met so they can focus on other aspects of familial aspects such as job searching, transportation, and schooling for children.

References

California Department of Public Health. (2013). Job Opportunities. Retrieved from.

                               

                http://www.cdph.ca.gov/services/jobs/Pages/default.aspx

California Department of Human Resources. (2013). Administrative Assistant I. Retrieved from.            

           

            http://www.calhr.ca.gov/state-hr-professionals/pages/5361.aspx.

Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust. (2013). Melanoma Research Grant. Retrieved from.

            http://www.hjltrust.com/

The Salvation Army. (2013). Retrieved from. http://www.salvationarmy.org/

Women, Infants, Children. (2013). Retrieved from.  http://www.sbcounty.gov/dph/wic/

EDUC 6990-7_Capstone class_Week 1

Hello fellow bloggers and colleagues. It's finally the end of a new start in life. The Masters Program draws to an end, but a new future comes in with a career path and upgrade to a whole new life of caring, guiding and nurturing children.
My wordle this week entails helping low-income families receive support, safety classes, health screenings, and nutrition services to help curb poverty and offer a new generation of successful students and productive adults. I really look forward to working with you all.

A Note of Thanks and Appreciation

Thank-you to all of my colleagues and Instructors for making my Walden experience a positive one. Also, thanks to Dr. Thomason for hearing me out in my assignments, Blogs, Discussions and teaching me how to communicate and collaborate more effectively. I wish all of you the best for your future goals, dreams, and educational journey's.

Team Building and Collaboration, Part 1

            In response to any groups in which I have been involved in, saying good-bye is always tough for me. The good-bye process is so tough because the relationship building that takes place along with the collaboration between group members makes it hard to not be a part of the positive relationship building. The reason this can be so is because the group that is high-performing is the group that can be the most effective in collaboration, communication, and group efforts. In the Norming stage the "The team members have gotten to know each other, trust each other and rely on each other" (Abudi, G. 2010).These kinds of groups are usually well established and interdependent. In my case, I was involved in a group project in college many times in speech class. We were always a good team. We assigned roles, we worked hard, we were rarely in disagreement, and we always were asked upon to present our work to the class. As the class ended eventually, it was hard to say good-bye. But I took initiative to get phone numbers from group members to keep in touch. It really helped to gather phone numbers not just to keep in touch, but to meet up with friends in the future and to continue friendships. For the purpose of this class, and my Master's Degree program, there are many means that I can utilize to keep in touch with my colleagues. I would totally take advantage of the adjourning stage of team works because it is essential in offering encouragement to the group, and to wish them well on their future accomplishments. "This also provides the team the opportunity to say good-bye to each other and wish each other luck as they pursue their next endeavor" (Abudi, G. 2010).

References

 Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management

As a result of my last major conflict I had recently with a landlord, I think that without taking this class, I used some helpful strategies to turn conflict into a more productive solution because I moved out of the place that was bringing me so much stress. And all I did was not talk to my landlord and it completely avoided any type of argument or confrontation. Now that I have taken this course I can see that I have gained a lot more skills in dealing with communication, listening, and conflict management. Two strategies that I would love to share consist of a compromise such as asking the landlord to give me time to move because I have children, which I did and she agreed. Compromise helps because it allows both sides to discuss their sides of the story and to meet somewhere in the middle. Also, another strategy is to allow the angry person to talk without interrupting them. It really surprises them when they see that you are not arguing back and they eventually stop. One key to becoming an effective listener is to "go into active listening mode and stay there till they've calmed down" (http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3). I would really love to hear opinions and suggestions from my colleagues as to how I can produce more effective skills at communication and conflict management. Also, I would love to learn about any strategies that other's have used if in similar situation as mine.




 References Conflict Resolution Network. http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3