Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

1.      I chose Child Youth and Family Services because they work towards helping children become healthy, happy, and productive adults through early learning, counseling and shelter for youth, and education and support for families.  I like the fact that they have programs in place to meet the needs of the family as a whole.

In order to be considered for any position at Child Youth and Family Services, I would have to first satisfactory complete a Child Protective Service and Criminal History Check.   One job that I would be interested in learning is the Director of Corporate and Foundation giving.  This position requires me to research, write, and prepare proposals for submissions to potential funding sources to extend programs and add new ones.  I would need a four year college degree and experience in the nonprofit sector, including grant writing experience in order to qualify for this position.

2.      Neediest Kids helps at risk students obtain the basic essentials they need such as eyeglasses, clothes, personal hygiene items, school supplies and uniforms, food, and so much more to help them be successful in school.   There are corporations, foundations, associate members, and retailers such as American Airlines, Mobile Giving Foundation, Scott Brickman, Brickman, Staples, and so many more that gives generous contributions to support more than 21,000 low-income students annually.

There were no job opportunities available at this time, but I would love to volunteer in any way that I can in supporting such a wonderful cause.  I would like to separate and organize gift bags for the students and help deliver them to their homes or schools just to be able to see the look on their face.  I think that this position would require me to have passion to want to help others be successful in life.

3.      The Child and Family Network Centers provides high-quality, free education and related services to at risk-children and their families in an effort to prepare them for life successes.  I like this program because it focuses on at risk families, provides a full range of educational, family, and health services based on the needs of the family, and all the programs are offered within the neighborhoods where the families live.   Annie E. Casey Foundation partnered with Virginia Governor Mark Warner in providing services to over 172 children and their families.   Their services include free preschool education, developmental screenings, speech and occupational therapy, psychological assessments, and individual therapy. A nurse practitioner screens clients, refers them to medical resources, and advises them about insurance.  There are five full-time social workers provide counseling, case management, job training, and ESL to parents who need the services.

Currently, there are no job opportunities available.  I would be very interested in a position that advocated for additional funding so that more families could be helped annually.  I feel that I would need a strong foundation in grant writing and experience in the nonprofit sector to accomplish this.  Most importantly, I would need communtities of practice; therefore, I need you.