National and Federal Communities of Practice

The three national or federal organizations I chose to examine are:

·         Zero To Three - http://www.zerotothree.org/

ZERO TO THREE is 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.

I chose this organization because of my passion for teaching infants and toddlers and supporting new families.  I appreciate that Zero to Three offers training for educators, resources for families, and provides anyone with the latest research on brain development and other issues related to young children.  Currently there are no job opportunities that I would qualify for, but in the future, I would be very interested in becoming a trainer for this organization.  I feel that my background in and passion for this age group along with my graduate work in teaching adults would qualify me for this type of position. 

·         Children’s Defense Fund - http://www.childrensdefense.org/

The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for nearly 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. We champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation. Supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations, CDF advocates nationwide on behalf of children to ensure children are always a priority.

We are a national organization with the capacity to work for children at federal, state and community levels across the country. We have our headquarters in Washington, D.C., and offices in California, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Through these offices, we expand our work into North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas and New Jersey. CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tenn., is our home for spiritual renewal, character and leadership development, intergenerational mentoring, and interracial and interfaith dialog about children's issues.

CDF Mission Statement:

The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investments before they get sick, drop out of school, get into trouble or suffer family breakdown.  

CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations.

I chose this organization because it addresses not only education, but health care for children and families.  Health care is an arena that is so critical to the success of young children and their families and I appreciate that there is a movement to bring attention to the growing crisis in basic health care for American children.  There are also no positions available for this organization either in my area or for which I would qualify, but in the future, I would be interested in doing some outreach work here in Minnesota.  The skills that would be necessary would include a clear understanding of the resources that are available to families and how to access them effectively.  Good communication and advocacy skills would also be beneficial.

·         The YMCA - http://www.ymca.net/

Today, the Y engages more than 10,000 neighborhoods across the U.S. As the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to helping people and communities to learn, grow and thrive, our contributions are both far-reaching and intimate—from influencing our nation’s culture during times of profound social change to the individual support we provide an adult learning to read.

By nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being, and supporting and serving our neighbors, the Y ensures that everyone has the opportunity to become healthier, more confident, connected and secure.

I chose this organization because of the work they do within communities to engage citizens in healthy lifestyles.  They support children, families and communities in housing, education, and other services that are essential to the success of the entire area.  Currently there is a Community Program Director position available in Minneapolis.  This job would require the skills to manage and oversee several different kinds of programming for children, including after school and camp programming.  It also requires the ability to interact with community partners and advocate for the services that the YMCA of Minneapolis offers.

Resources:

http://www.zerotothree.org/

http://www.childrensdefense.org/

http://www.ymca.net/

Communities of Practice

The three local or state organizations I chose to review are:

·         Way To Grow – Minneapolis, MN - http://mplswtg.org/

We firmly believe that every child should be born healthy, stay healthy and have the equal opportunity to succeed in school and life. And that can only happen with parents’ active participation. Through our in-home and center-based programming, we help parents create a healthy home and become their children’s first and most important teachers.

·         Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral - http://www.mnchildcare.org/

The Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network helps families find child care and understand their care options, supports child care providers through grants and education, and informs the community on the importance of child care.

·         Wilder Foundation – Saint Paul, MN - http://www.wilder.org/

Our mission (from the original Wilder family wills)
To promote the social welfare of persons resident or located in the greater Saint Paul metropolitan area by all appropriate means, including:

• relief of the poor
• care of the sick and aged
• care and nurture of children
• aid of the disadvantaged and otherwise needy
• promotion of physical and mental health
• provision of needed housing and social services
• operation of residences and facilities for the aged, the infirm and those requiring special care

and in general the conservation of human resources by the provision of human services responsive to the welfare needs of the community, all without regard to, or discrimination on account of, nationality, sex, color, religious scruples or prejudices.

The Way To Grow organization recently had a job posting for the Director of Early Education.  The job entailed the ability to interact well with various entities such as donors, school districts, and families.  It required the ability to network, organize, and supervise a number of different people with very different roles.  In addition, they also had a posting for a family educator.  I like this organization because of the work they do in children’s homes to close the gap in learning and support families.

The Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral organization has a variety of opportunities for educators to become trainers of other educators.  This is an organization that I am excited about networking with more intently after I finish my degree.  I would like the opportunity to submit the training idea that I developed in our last course and have it placed in the training resource guides that go out to early childhood educators and home-based child cares.  I would need to complete the certification in Minnesota to become a recognized trainer.  I feel that the coursework I have completed has provided me with the skills and insight to become an effective trainer.

The Wilder Foundation has been working with children, families, and individuals in the Saint Paul area for over 100 years.  My specific interest focused on the work they do with children with special needs.  They provide counseling and day treatment services for children.  The job opportunities that were listed were out of my professional focus, but I see them as part of the community of practice that I would include in my circle because of the work they do with children and families both in education and other areas.