Sharing Web Resources

For this assignment I chose to revisit the National Black Child website. I was hoping to find another resource under the Resources tab/ publications, but unfortunately this link was not available at this time. However, the one area I chose to thoroughly search was the “T.E.A.C.H.” tab. 

                Available on the website was a press release of the NBCDI announcing receipt of funds from the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Early Education. The objective is to launch a scholarship system targeted towards early childhood practitioners to provide opportunities for acquiring higher education credentials.  Formal educational opportunities include CDA, Associates and Bachelors degrees, and a Director scholarship in the early childhood field.

            Other bits of information included eligibility guidelines, (must not earn more than $19.00 per hour), and must live and be employed as an early childhood practitioner (working with young children) in the District of Columbia. Applicants are not restricted to Center Based Care, but individuals from Family Homes are eligible too. The T.E.A.C.H. program is also available in 21 other states.

To assist individuals with the application process, applications and forms for each program is available and can be printed. There are also instructions for completing college applications and the FAFSA, along with  a list of participating colleges (including their links). The FAQ section and a T.E.A.C.H. presentation are available to answer any questions one may have as well as contact information.

Lastly, what really captivated me was the “Creative Ideas for Release Time” section. In this section is a list of suggestions for ensuring that participants receive support from their directors. Here are a few of the suggestions. 

·         Offer release time during rest time so scholarship recipients can study or use the center’s  computer and  other resources for papers and class projects.
·         Pay recipients for their lunch breaks.
·         Provide a whole or half day off before a test, final exam or when a class project is due.  This will give scholarship recipients extra time to prepare for these big events.

Wow! I wish!

I am not receiving an e-newsletter from the NBCDI. Information is provided to those who become members. But there was an announcement stating that NBCDI received a $300,000.00 grant from the WALMART Foundation! The funds are being allocated to launch a healthy nutrition initiative. The implementation of this initiative will involve a delivery method that is culturally relevant and meaningful for the purpose of reducing obesity among African Americans and educating African American children and families about the importance of practicing good nutrition. 

In terms of finding information related to this week’s topic about equity and accessibility in the early childhood field, I discovered a paper in the resources section titled “Economic Recovery Letter” (2009). The letter was addressed to the Senator/ Representative from the Child Care and Early Learning Coalition. In the closing section of the letter was a list of the organization affiliates. Just to name a few, the YMCA of the USA, Zero to Three, NAEYC, and The National Black Child Development Institute was on the list.

The content of the letter entailed strong support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the purpose of revitalizing our country and helping struggling families make ends meet. The letter addressed the need to assist families with the cost of quality child care, putting parents back to work, and pleading that new school constructions make provisions for early child education as well. The content also includes addressing the issue of eligibility by stating that an increasing number of families need financial assistant with the high cost of early quality child care. The coalition also stated their support of the $255.2 million in funds to target quality improvements, of which $93.6 million would be allocated for infant and toddler care. The objective is to excel beyond the current standards of quality. 

In closing, I must say that I am real excited about the T.E.A.C.H program. This initiative is a step in the right direction to improve the quality of care in communities least likely to provide quality care. And after  reading the Child Care and Learning Coalition (2009) "Economic Recovery" letter, I realized how powerful advocacy can be when everyone pulls together.

References

National Black Child Development Institute
http://nbcdi.org/