One strategy that affects organizations in the implementation
of early childhood systems is the decentralized systems that are federal level
creations, but states are allowed to “self-regulate” programs instead of being
a comprehensive system for all users. Head-Start has the market cornered on the
use of early childhood systems. Advocates use variety of social issues that
affect young children and families like poverty to influence the distribution
of funds into certain programs and grants throughout the United States. Several
organization apply for grants that can help in revitalizing communities that
have at risk children. As we know the first years of life are the most
important in the future success of children. Therefore when community advocates
seek to improve issues like these they influence governmental and political decisions
on what money should be spent on. In my community I see several programs
throughout the county to fight the infant mortality rate, which is great but
there is a need for reading proficiencies for the children that are surviving infant
mortality. There is always more than one need for communities but sometimes a hyper
focus overshadows some other important conversations that are needed to be had
by early childhood professionals.
Currently in my area, (which is a rural area) received additional funding to create early learning empowerment zones to bring awareness of early childhood education. Many citizens in the community did not want this funding because it is federal funding but they are the same citizens who's children can benefit from the funding especially when the children transition into elementary school. Once all citizen are educated about the early childhood field then I believe the advocating will be a whole lot easier.
ReplyDeleteThrough my investigation of early childhood systems I have seen that there is a lot of support for low-income families, and rightly so. The most fragile members of our society need the most support. I find myself wondering, though, what are we doing for working families who sit just above the poverty level? How can we ensure that we are not participating in the perpetuation of the wage gap by making it impossible to live without being either rich or poor?
ReplyDeleteRB Fast
Agree that their a lot of programs to support low income families Also there are a lot programs that receive grant money to research programs like infants mortality rate and the effect it had on women health.
ReplyDelete