Sharing Web Resources

              What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current             prof      professional development? The budget cut section from the news section in head                         start seemed relevant to my professional development. I have to make a decision on how                   much longer I can work for head start do to the continuous budget cuts to head start. I want                    to own and operate my own preschool therefore I must decide when I am going to start this                 new phase of my career.

              Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did              you      find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

              Ideas on the website showed how people can stand up for head start. It states Stop the                           Cuts, Stand up for Head Start. This made me think of this issue in a new way because I I                      immediately starting thinking of ways to save Head Start and add money to Head Starts                                     Budget.

              What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your                    und     undertrstanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early                        childhood field? The website has an advocacy section which allows people to support                                  head start by donating. The website also has a research section which states NHS                                  maintains a close relationship with researchers in the field.

PodCast and Childhood Poverty in India Overview

I chose to watch a podcast about poverty in America. I found the podcast on youtube  here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPuS_Cl_2gc

Insights from the podcast:

• The Federal Reserve found that 40% of Americans lost their wealth over a 3 year period 2007-2010.
• Compared to previous recessions the unemployment rate is higher.
• Unemployment is a problem in America.
• The poverty rate went up during the recession.
• Wages at the bottom are a big problem.
• America’s middle class is shrinking according to the 2010 CENSUS and Nearly half of the population is poor or low income.
• If you wait until you are 21 to get married and have a baby, you have a smaller chance of being in poverty and low income. 

Facts about Childhood Poverty in India:

• Two-fifths of the world's malnourished children live in India.
• Child labor is a huge problem in India
• For rural families some children go to work at the age of 6

http://www.heal.co.uk/child-poverty.html

http://twocircles.net/2012jan11/childhood_poverty_remains_reality_india.html

Sharing Web Resources

Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization that focuses on the care of all babies and toddles. They ensure all babies and toddlers have a great start at life by providing parents, professionals, and policymakers resources and knowledge on how to foster early development of children. They also promote healthy and safety for infants and toddlers. One issue that stood out to me on the website was the maltreatment of infants and toddlers. The website states “Early experiences powerfully shape the developing brain and can have both immediate and lifelong impact on health and well-being. Infants and toddlers are disproportionately at risk for maltreatment. They account for over three-quarters of child maltreatment fatalities”. When focusing on the health and development of infant and toddlers the issue of maltreatment has to be addressed. It’s a sad situation to deal with therefore it is important to provide information for parents to help reduce maltreatment from occurring. The website offer helpful resources to prevent maltreatment. One fact that saddens me from the website is “Every 7 minutes an infant or toddler is removed from their home due to alleged abuse or neglect”. Zero to Thee is taking actions to help prevent abuse and neglect.

“ZERO TO THREE created the Safe Babies Court Teams; a project rooted in developmental science, which aims to:

1.    increase awareness among those who work with maltreated infants and toddlers about the negative impact of abuse and neglect on very young children; and,
2.    change local systems to improve outcomes and prevent future court involvement in the lives of very young children”.

Website:

http://www.zerotothree.org/