EDUC 586
Early Childhood Leadership, Policy, and Practice
February 13, 2021
Six Steps to Successful Child Advocacy
Advocacy Journal Prompts (Chapter 1):
What is the source of your fire for child advocacy? It may be helpful to close your eyes and imagine the image, story, news, or other source that first sparked your interest in child advocacy.​
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I have always been interested in the idea of family well-being and promoting parents to develop their skills. The skills I have developed over time took practice and with more than one student. Parents do not often have that same amount of time to try out different strategies that work with guiding children. During the pandemic, parents and children are experiencing more stress than ever before. The resources available for families are limited and after taking The Science of Early Childhood, I realize that there is a disconnect between best practices and policies.
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What is the goal for your advocacy work? Is it something you can achieve in the short term, or is it a long-term goal?
My goals are short and long-term.
I believe that I want to advocate for children’s emotional health. I think that there are things that can be achieved in the classroom to promote that goal, in addition to adding some long-range ideas that can reach across the community.
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What is the context for your advocacy work -- the local, regional (state), national, or international level?
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This is a local effort, in the classroom to reach the families that I encounter daily.
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What types of challenges are you likely to encounter? What can you control about your advocacy work, and what will you have to let go of?
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Challenges include finding ways to reach parents to spread information and understanding. The children in my class may have some struggle adapting to strategies I can implement in the classroom. I can only control what happens in the classroom. I do not have a hard time giving up control. I think that it is important to think through my goals and decide what will work for me and my students this year.
How will you persist in efforts towards your goal, despite inevitable challenges? What inspiration will keep you going?
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Once I put my mind to something, I do not see much holding me back. I recognize that there might be challenges, but I am trying to set a small goal in advocacy at this time. I feel inspired by other teachers that have been excellent examples in my past of advocacy, so I will keep those models in mind as I persist.
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Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team? Where can you find others to collaborate on your advocacy goal?
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I personally do not enjoy working in groups, but I think when it comes to advocacy, it is important to work with others. Collaboration with others is a great way to share ideals and the workload. When you have different perspectives coming together for a common goal, I feel that you have a better chance at making the changes you seek.
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What are your methods for self-care to avoid burnout?
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I love to go on walks with my good friend to share with her about some of the stresses of the day. I find that is a safe place to share and get an outside perspective. I know that it is important to make time for myself and to do mental wellness checks often.
February 21, 2021
Outlining Your Advocacy Plan
Advocacy Journal Prompts (Chapters 3)
My advocacy goal:
There is a need for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to be recognized as professionals and valued for the essential service that they bring into the community. In addition to professional recognition, ECEs deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. These ECEs are primarily women, and a large portion are women of color. I want to advocate for policies that will provide recognition and compensation for ECEs.
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My objectives:
Create an awareness campaign to educate and empower ECEs to understand and recognize their importance in the community and in turn educate the public and our policymakers on the importance of the profession in the community.
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Purpose new policies that will create living wages and comprehensive benefits for ECEs.
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Possible activities to achieve goals:
Research and understand the facts surrounding the issues.
Start a media campaign using social media outlets, newsletters, and emails to convey purpose.
Host outreaches in the ECE community, then expand into community to garner support.
Start an advocacy group.
Build relationships with policy makers.
Potential partners in Advocacy:
Child Care Aware Schools Local Community
Equal Rights Group Equal Pay Today Organization Rise Up
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Time frame and List of Observable Milestones:
Month 1-3, Gather facts and understand the issues surrounding professional recognition and equitable pay.
Month 4-8, Work on setting up social media sites and start putting together list of women in the ECE profession that you can network with.
Month 9-12, Start a local group of ECE professionals that share same advocacy goals.
Month 13-16, Resource with other organizations that may be meeting with policy makers, demonstrations, and other outreaches in the community.
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Budget:
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Item Quantity Cost Per Unit Total Cost
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Meeting Space 3 Meetings $200.00 $600.00
Participant Raffle 3 Raffles $50.00 $150.00
Social Media 7 Posts/Week FREE FREE
Email Newsletter 1 per Month FREE FREE
Publication Material Unknown $5,000 $5,000
Virtual Workshops 2 Workshops FREE FREE
Travel Fees Unknown $500 $500
TOTAL: $6,250
Possible funding sources:
Donations Membership Fees Grants
Evaluation questions:
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Survey or interview ECEs to see if there is change in their pay, professional recognition or other effects of advocacy that have impacted their profession.
Survey the community see if there is a change in respect for ECE profession and understanding of the need for equitable pay. Check for interest level in voting for changes in the treatment of ECE.
Look for policy changes made on the local and state level that improve ECEs pay and professional recognition.
Data Collection Methods:
1. Track how many times sites have been visited
2. Track number of participants in online workshops
3. Google survey or other survey website
4. Track the general community to collect number of volunteers involved or hours contributed towards supporting the effort.
February 28th, 2021
Initial Draft Advocacy Summary Sheet
Advocacy Journal Prompts (Chapter 5):
The Importance of Professional Development and Compensation for Early Childhood Educators
Statement of the Problem
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There is a need for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to be recognized as professionals and valued for the essential service that they bring into the community. In addition to professional recognition, ECEs deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. These ECEs are primarily women, and a large portion are women of color. “The industry as a whole has always stumbled with high labor turnover as the jobs offer low pay and high stress” (Ho, 2018). Low wages for ECEs undermines their ability to provide for themselves and their families that rely on them. By providing livable wages, vacation & sick leave, and retirement funding options we can show that the early education field can support a quality life.
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The current structure of childcare in the United States, has ties to World War II and the Lanham Act of 1941. The Lanham Act specifically provided resourcing for childcare and other resources that encouraged mothers to leave the home and enter the workforce. Over time our childcare system has been divided along class lines. These divisions have made it “difficult for parents to unite and lobby for improved services and increased public funding for childcare for all children” (Michel, 2011). Currently there is a “shrinking pool of child care workers with employers still offering low pay while demand for high-quality child care programs” (Ho, 2018). There are over 1 million people involved in providing care to young children. According to the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), 97 percent of center-based early childhood teaching staff are women (NSECE, 2013).
What Must Change
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1. ECEs need access to better education and to develop an understanding in the community that will honor and recognize their importance in the community. There needs to be outreach into the community to garner support for ECEs.
2. Purpose and implement new policies that will create living wages and comprehensive benefits for ECEs. Use media campaign to convey purpose and support for better living wages and benefits.
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Partners in the Process
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Potential partners that have similar goals in achieving livable wages and benefits for ECEs, are as follows: Child Care Aware, Human Rights Group, Equal Pay Today Organization, and Rise Up. In addition to the local community, public school system and childcares in the area.
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Outcomes if Proposed Solutions are Implemented
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Relationships with the community and policy makers would improve. Together we could be working towards change and improvement of ECEs.
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ECEs would have the opportunity to seek more education and improve themselves professionally, in addition to earning better wages and comprehensive benefits.
References
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Ho, S. (2018). 'Broken' Economics for Preschool Workers, Child Care Sector. US News And World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-09-08/broken-economics-for-preschool-workers-child-care-sector
Michel, S. (2011). The history of child care in the U.S. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/child-care-the-american-history/ (Links to an external site.)
Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). October 2013. Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) (hhs.gov)
The Importance of Professional Development and
Compensation for Early Childhood Educators
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The Issues Related to Professional Development and Compensation
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There is a need for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to be recognized as professionals and valued for the essential service that they bring into the community. In addition to professional recognition, ECEs deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. These ECEs are primarily women, and a large portion are women of color. “The industry as a whole has always stumbled with high labor turnover as the jobs offer low pay and high stress” (Ho, 2018). Low wages for ECEs undermines their ability to provide for themselves and their families that rely on them. For example, in New York City, it was noted that a in a full day program preschool teacher “were often paid much less than teachers with equal education and experience who worked in the public elementary school system”(Brooks, 2020). By providing livable wages, vacation & sick leave, and retirement funding options we can show that the early education field can support a quality life.
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Over time our childcare system has been divided along class lines. These divisions have made it “difficult for parents to unite and lobby for improved services and increased public funding for childcare for all children” (Michel, 2011). Currently there is a “shrinking pool of childcare workers with employers still offering low pay while demand for high-quality childcare programs” (Ho, 2018). There are over 1 million people involved in providing care to young children. According to the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), 97 percent of center-based early childhood teaching staff are women (NSECE, 2013).
How Can We Create Change for the Profession of Early Childcare Educators?
By recognizing that the need for high-quality childcare starts with the education of those professionals responsible for educating our young. “There is a growing awareness of the links among access to childcare, parental employment, and overall economic growth. Businesses rely on employees, and employees rely on childcare”(Halpin, Agne & Omero, 2020). To support these professionals, ECEs need access to better education. In addition, we would like to develop an understanding in the community that will honor and recognize the importance of early childhood professionals. There needs to be outreach into the community to garner support and respectability for those in the early childhood education.
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Wages for early childhood educators have remained stagnant, we must purpose and implement new policies that will create living wages and comprehensive benefits for ECEs. By implementing a media campaign to convey purpose and support for better living wages and benefits, we can encourage our community to vote in legislation that will support and sustain livable wages and benefits to Early Childhood Educators.
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Partners in the Process
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Potential partners that have similar goals in achieving livable wages and benefits for ECEs, in addition to the local community, public school system and childcares in the area are as follows:
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Child Care Aware
Home - Child Care Aware® of America
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Human Rights Campaign
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Equal Pay Today Organization
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Save the Children Action Network
Washington - Save the Children Action Network
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Senator Patty Murray
2988 Jackson Federal Building 915 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98174 Phone: 206-553-5545
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​The Call to Action
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We know that our current system of childcare is not meeting the needs of children, parents, and the professionals in the field of early childhood education. “Although more public funds for childcare were available than ever before, problems of supply and quality continue to limit access to childcare” (Michel, 2011). Lack of support for early childhood educators financially and professionally, will drive future educators to other more lucrative and socially perceived respectful professions. The shortage of teachers will create a void and hinder families to participate in our economy.
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Using media to help create awareness and understanding of the issues ECEs face, we could forge relationships policy makers and ignite the call to action. Together we could be working towards change and improvement in the field of early childhood education. ECEs would have the opportunity to seek more education and improve themselves professionally, in addition to earning better wages and comprehensive benefits. “The investment in compensation for early childhood educators will attract and retain top talent and create the best possible opportunities for young children and their families” (Evans, 2020). As recognition grows in this profession, we would see an increase in future teachers going into this branch of education and providing families much needed support.
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References
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Brooks, A. (2020). Exploring the Potential Pros and Cons of Universal Pre-K. Retrieved 25 February 2021, from https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/universal-pre-k-what-is-it-why-affect-me/
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Evans, R. (2020, February 14). Why aren’t we pay early childhood educators what they are worth? from Why Aren’t We Paying Early Childhood Educators What They’re Worth? | EdSurge News
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Halpin, J., Agne, K., & Omero, M. (2020). Affordable Child Care and Early Learning for All Families. Retrieved from http://Affordable Child Care and Early Learning for All Families
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Ho, S. (2018). 'Broken' Economics for Preschool Workers, Child Care Sector. US News and World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-09-08/broken-economics-for-preschool-workers-child-care-sector
Michel, S. (2011). The history of childcare in the U.S. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/child-care-the-american-history/ (Links to an external site.)
Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). October 2013. Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) (hhs.gov)
March 7th, 202
Advocacy Summary Sheet
Advocacy Journal Prompts (Chapter 6):