Early Head Start

Throughout the last two weeks of observation and interacting with the professionals, children, and families at Sheltering Arms I was able to learn about the benefits of their Early Head Start (EHS) Program, which was in an infant classroom (six weeks to fifteen months). I was enlightened at how the program stands true to the original beginnings of the Head Start program. The traditional Head Start program was a place where children could come for hot meals, food and care with personal hygiene while they are educated in a early childhood setting. The EHS program at Sheltering Arms is designed for low income families, they provide child care for them at a low and affordable rate. Families in the EHS programs are given an opportunity for assistance with receiving formula, diapers, and food when needed for infants and toddlers as well as a full day in the ECE setting. The teachers and staff offer a safe, encouraging environment for families as well as children, home visits are done, parenting classes are required, volunteer time in the classrooms is required along with daily tips and help with maintaining the healthy growth, development and care of the children.
      In conversations with families I learned that they were very happy with the care, concern and help that they received from the center and many of them had more than one child go through the program. They were so happy with the success of their first child's experience they put their new babies on the waiting as soon as they knew they were pregnant. I was able to observe how the teachers interact with families and care for the children. Some of the teachers and children had such a bond that would cause the child to cry when the teacher left out of the classroom. Even though I was only observing I felt as though when children respond to adults in that way they are in good care. Because the center offers continuity of care the children would have these bonds up until they turned three.   
     The insight I gained as I observed that includes advocacy efforts is how effective parent education. Programs like EHS are a great avenue for reaching out to parents who may not know better while raising their children. I was enlightened by how the teachers in this small classroom chose to be advocates for the children in their class and speak up to the parents about how to care for their children. While I was their one of the teachers explained how they are having issued with the babies bottles not being cleaned properly, so they place hand outs in each child's cubby along with a brand new bottle cleaner and small bottle of dish washing liquid. This gestures was used in an attempt to not single any one out, but simply educate.
     I learned that there is still a high demand for passionate and caring teachers. Many times I see where teachers are only there for a pay check leaving our youth in situations where they are not challenged or helped the way they need. if the teachers I observed felt that way these families would suffer. In my attempt to continue my journey learning and exploring advocacy I plan on being a voice for those families and children who need people like me who wants to see them successful and prosperous in their lives.

Interacting with Professionals/Administrators and Advocacy

Throughout my continued observation and interactions with the administrators and professionals these last two weeks I was able to learn about to set up parenting classes and use the information table as a means of displaying items that would be helping in reaching out to families. My advocacy campaign is about educating families so the effects enlighten and prepare their children for a successful future. The Family Support Coordinators and Director all agreed that the center needs for improving the care that the children and increasing the interest level would stem from the results of an effective outreach program for parents. I brought these issues to them by sharing some observations that I made about how I noticed some of the parents interacting with the children, how the children were being brought to school and the actions of some of these children who parents needed a little boost or extra help with parenting.
I think that the best thing for me to do to continue my journey on parenting outreach is to learn about the companies policies on how they help families within the centers and outside in the community. I want to learn how the company does outreach and if not a direst way, I would like to talk to someone that could help me with stretching the campaign out so that more parents are willing to come get help. I would like to make parent education something that is not seen as a judgmental thing, but a helpful thing that he children need as well as a parent.