Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Organizations that appealed to me are Parents as Teachers, the local PTA (Parent –Teacher Association), Idaho Head Start Association, and Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs. All four organizations support the parent-teacher relationship, cater to parents and children, and are ones that I have never belonged to before.

The organization of Parents as Teachers profiles examples of home visiting and working with parents and children in preparing young children for school by promoting “healthy development.” Years ago a program that I worked for used their curriculum. I found the curriculum helpful as I visited families. The closest PAT I can find is located in Boise, Idaho. This makes me wonder if it would be beneficial to begin such an organization locally in Twin Falls, Idaho. This organization would be helpful in promoting parenting and relationship skills for parents and children.

Joining the local and national PTA as a representative from the schools would give me to opportunity to meet parents that are already associated with being a vital partner in their child’s education. The purpose of the PTA “is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children” (Parents as Teachers, n.d.).

The Idaho Head Start Association’s mission is “to advocate for the children and families of Idaho by promoting and strengthening early care and learning.” I worked for Head Start in Idaho many years ago. I was never a member of their association, but wished our supervisor would have promoted membership. The core values of this organization embody many ideas in which I believe. Those principles include, “respect, trust, compassion, collaboration, communication, accountability, diversity, integrity, quality, recognition and celebration” (Idaho Head Start Association, n.d.).

From my past experience with Head Start, I know that they strive to build trusting relationships between parents, children, and Head Start staff. This would be a positive environment for working with parents and children in establishing developmentally appropriate skills important to being parents that advocate for children.

Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs is another organization I find interesting. The Hispanic population represents the largest ethnic group in Idaho (ICHA, 2011). ICHA provides serviced to the Hispanic population and acts as a liaison between community and government groups. They are important in providing advice to the governor about issues that the state of Idaho Hispanic population fact. For instance; studies show that there is a significant gap between Latino students and reaching current academic standards

I have a special place in my heart for the Hispanic population as I have built relationships with Hispanic children I have taught and with their families. They are an asset to our community and offer diversity that is complementary to building strong family units. For the betterment of their children, I would like to join forces in connecting this population in developing better relationships between them and the schools their children attend.

Currently there are no employment opportunities advertised by the said agencies within the community where I live (Twin Falls County). The ICHA lists employment opportunities from partnering agencies, but none were within the early childhood field. Head Start which is affiliated with the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) listed a home visitor opening. However, at this time, I am most interested in taking my challenge of parenting parents before they become parents to CSI.

The skills I foresee needing in doing this are planning and organization, leadership, public speaking, knowledge of both adult and child development, knowledge of parenting skills and how to link those skills to younger adults and children, ability to advocate and get others to advocate for parenting before parenting. Becoming a member of agencies that promote parenting and building relationships between schools/teachers and families are those that I seek to support my passion.

References:
Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA). (2011). Idaho commission on hispanic affairs: Working toward economic, social, and political equality for hispanics in idaho. Retrieved from http://icha.idaho.gov/default.asp

Idaho Head Start Association. (n.d.). Investing in idaho’s future. Retrieved from http://idahoheadstartassoc.net/

National PTA. (n.d.). National pta: Every child. one voice. Retrieved from http://www.pta.org/index.cfm

Parents as Teachers. (n.d.). Parents as teachers. Retrieved from http://www.parentsasteachers.org/