Thoughts from RevJ: Week 4 Blog Assignment

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Week 4 Blog Assignment

Three agencies I would like to play a role in assisting young children.

1. The Administration for Children & Families (ACF) - “A division of the Department of Health & Human Services. ACF promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2013). The organization attempts to assist the entire family. Working with this organization would require an in-depth understanding of diversity.

There were no positions listed as open on the site. However, I would love to work in management that supervises training for family assistance.

2. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – This organization presents information on every aspect of teaching and administration as it pertains to early childhood across the United States. It allows the EC professional to go to one place for a plethora of resources (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2013). The organization also advocates for children and families by supporting causes associated with children and families.

There was no employment information given on the site. However, I would love to work with NAEYC as an adult presenter for EC professionals. Skills needed for such a positioning are the techniques I learned for teaching adults as well as staying abreast on the development of children.

3. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families – “a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Our mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers (Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, 2012). I was drawn to this organization because of one of the captions that ‘early experiences matter (Zero to three: national center for infants, toddlers, and families, 2012)’. I was not familiar with this organization before this assignment. There were no positions available on the site.

References

National Association for the Education of Young Children (2013). Retrieved from

http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2013). Administration for Children and Families.

Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/.

Zero to three: national center for infants, toddlers, and families (2012). Retrieved from

http://www.zerotothree.org/.

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RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

John Donne (1572-1631) said '...no man is an island...'. Human beings require relationships as we matriculate through life. However significant to us, we need other beings. Even if one went out and lived from the elements around no other humans, that individual would need some other beings to live. Further more, we are born because people came together and when we pass on someone will handle our remains and effects. Relationships of every kind (family, social, professional, religious, romantic) require efforts and maintence from the parties involved.

Some Personal Relationships

I live in a (penthouse type) apartment with a friend of mine I became acquainted with at church. After a painful divorce and left with large mortgage payments, I asked this 'nice' lady from church if she wanted a roommate. She had gone on a weekend trip and while gone her apartment was broken into and everything taken or destroyed (even her clothes). When I sold the house, we continued to be roommates. It has been 11 years now. Although we spend our social time with a seperate group of friends, we are still very close. This relationship has grown as we continue to help each other in any way we can. Denise would give me the shirt off of her back if asked. I would have to think about it if the tables were turned. :-D

I have a best friend named Tonya. She knows me better than my own blood sisters and brothers. We became very close friends after she lost her newborn son as she and her husband held him together. Because of our friendship many have tried to explain it by giving us nicknames such as, Mary and Martha, Paul and Silas, Jonathon and David. The one that stuck is Salt and Pepper. Someone said we bring spice to every situation. Guess who is salt. We minister together. We cry together. We travel together. I have sat in the hospital as she battled illness. She has verbally fought for me. We council each other. We pray for each other. We even feel when the other one is upset or sick. Our friendship is very rare. One author called a friendship like ours, soul-friends. Because of our friendship, we both have grown as a result of our friendship spiritually, emotionally, and cognitively. We even have clothes alike that we bought without the presence of each other. I couldn't make this up.

Both of these relationships are important to me and can be challenging at times. As a friend to both, sometimes I must overlook my thoughts or feelings on an idea or event in order to make the other comfortable or happy. For instance, at our national church conventions I want to talk to everyone I can on the first day. Tonya feels she has all week to see people so she goes to the room while we are on a recess. Every year we fight over which we are doing, meeting and greeting or going to the room. I recently learned that something from her childhood was the reason she didn't like meeting and greeting. I wouldn't have known this without communicating or observing my friend.

Denise and I are partners financially because we split the bills or take responsibilty of certain bills. This must be done through collaboration. Tonya and I are partners financially, spiritually, and professionally. Since becoming friends we have incorporated 2 nonprofit companies, started a women's annual conference, become Bible college professors and board members, as well as an international ministering team.

Learning to compromise in order to accomplish tasks with my friends has given me experience when working with my customers as an administrater of a day care. However, the knowledge I have aquired through these relationships will also give me experience as an EC professional working with children and their parents. As with the friendships when I had to disgard my desires in order to help them, I have the understanding that I must understand that my desires are not always the best as I collaborate with others.