Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Alliance For Kids     

 http://www.allianceforkids.org/about-afk/council/


The Alliance for Kids Early  Childhood Council of El Paso County appealed to me because it members includes parents, early care and education providers, school districts, higher education institutions, health organizations and community agencies. They impact the community because the work together to ensure that children and their families are being taken care and address four critical areas: Learning and Development; Family Support and Education; Health and Well-Being. It is one of thirty-one Early Childhood Councils in the State of Colorado(Alliance For Kids, n.d.). I have attended Alliance for Kids conferences and taken the professional development course they provide for educators. They are continuously looking for ways to ensure that there are no barriers for children trying to receive a high-quality early childhood education.

The Alliance for Kids Council is made of many separate organizations, and there are many job opportunities available throughout these organizations. They have openings in the different programs for programs directors, preschool teachers, early childhood educators and most require some form of higher education. They have different job requirements according to where you want to work. I would be interested in serving on one of the council sub committees that focus on the various aspects of well-being for children. There are no required skills needed to join the committees except wanting to help invest in young children’s future.

Community Partnership For Child Development(CPCD)

http://www.cpcdheadstart.org/

I have always wanted to be an integral part of ensuring that children from low- income families are provided an opportunity for quality education. The CPCD offers quality early childhood education through three programs: Colorado Head start, Early Head Start and the Colorado Preschool Program. They join with different organizations to ensure that children have the services needed for not only education but behavioral health, dental, nutrition and family support services.

The CPCD currently has a position for a Head Start/Colorado Preschool Program teacher that I may be interested in applying for in the future. Candidates for this position must have at least as an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field. If they are a related field, they still must have at least 30 credit hours in Early Childhood Education. The preferred qualifications are a Bachelors or Masters in early childhood education.

Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children(CAEYC)

http://coloradoaeyc.org/

The Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children(CAEYC) is a state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. “It is a professional membership organization,  which serves and acts on behalf of early childhood educators through advocacy, leadership, and professional development”( CAEYC, n.d.). One of the missions of the CAEYC is “to promote high quality developmentally appropriate, accessible early childhood care and educational services for Colorado children from birth to age eight” (CAEYC.n.d).  My professional goals include becoming an advocate for all children to receive a high- quality early childhood education.  The CAEYC organization will help me accomplish my goals.

There are not many paid positions open, but volunteer opportunities abound. In the future. I will be interested in serving in the Local District State chapters and hope to become a CAEYC Board Committee to help with addressing public policy, accreditation, and conference in regards to early childhood education.

 References

Alliance For Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05, 2016, from http://www.allianceforkids.org/

Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://coloradoaeyc.org/

CPCD Head Start Colorado Springs Colorado. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05, 2016, from http://www.cpcdheadstart.org/#!