Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are benefits that is provided by the federal government and administered by DTA. SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program that provides food assistance. SNAP works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.  Food programs such as SNAP provides families and or individuals whom receives benefits with an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card; using this card also minimize the embarrassment of using a paper food stamp because it is more discreet.

All parties interested in applying for SNAP must meet some requirements. For example, households have to meet income requirements that are based on the number of people per household and gross income.    

I chose SNAP because I see many children suffer from poor nutrition. For example, they bring soda and candy to school as a snack. I understand that healthy foods are more expensive and may not be as assessable in urban areas, but the side effects of children whom eat poorly are very disturbing. For instance, children will have less energy, suffer from dental issues, childhood obesity, suffer from numerous vitamin deficiencies, and a host of other issues.  I would like to have a job working with SNAP so that I could conduct workshops to help educate families of the importance of a well balanced meal so that their child(ren) can grow and develop to their full potential and teach them that eating healthy will decrease the risk of preventable diseases.

To work in this field as a councilor, one needs to have a Bachelors Degree and one year of experience in counseling, teaching, and/or guidance in an organized education program.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap.

  WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

Wic is a federally funded program that was established as a pilot program in 1972 and was made permanent in 1974. It was designed to help safeguard the health of low income women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutrition risk by providing them with vouchers to acquire nutritious foods to supplement diets, provide information in healthy eating, as well as issue referrals to health care facilities. WIC’s target populations consists of low income, nutritionally at risk, pregnant women, woman whom breastfeed (up to infant’s 1^st birthday), non-breast feeding women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends).  

I would like to work in this field because I was a recipient of WIC many years ago. I want to show women that although you are pregnant and are dealing with financial issues, that they can rise above their situation; I am a living testimony. I want to encourage women to take care of themselves and to learn to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that they are healthy and can take care of their children and by them developing a healthy lifestyle; their children will grow into productive citizens.

A Bachelors Degree and one year of experience in counseling, teaching, and/or guidance in an organized education program is needed to work in this field.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development was created to assist unemployed citizens of New Jersey with opportunities to attend school i.e., college/university or trade school to acquire skills that are needed in order to obtain employment in a field that is in demand, and receive temporary benefits upon eligibility as they await employment. Participants of this program can receive a tuition wavier which waves ones tuition, but the participant is required to pay all other expenses.

In addition, councilors are available to assist participants with creating resumes and answer other employment related questions. In order to keep this programs running, customized training funds have been established and are administered by the Division of Workforce Grant and Program Management, Office of Grants Operations.  I would like to work in this field because I would like to be instrumental in assisting people in “getting their lives back on track”. It is unfortunate that many people whom seek support from agencies operated by the state are often mistreat the very people they are to serve. I want people to have a sense of hope and not be spoken to in a condescending manor or less than simply because they are faced with a difficult time.

To work in this field as a councilor, a Bachelors Degree and two years of Social Work is needed.

http:// lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lwdhome/content/LWDNonProfit 

References


http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap. Retrieved on March 29, 2013
 http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic. Retrieved on March 29, 2013
http:// lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lwdhome/content/LWDNonProfit. Retrieved on March 29, 2013

Nicky

For the sake of this Assignment, I identified local, state, and federal organizations that appealed to me.  I knew before I pursued my Masters Degree, I wanted a job that would not only allow me to take care of my family and be self sufficient, but I wanted a career that was rewarding. As a result, I wanted to work in the field of early childhood. As a single mother, I saw firsthand what I did and did not like in regards to my own sons education and I didn’t want other families to feel slighted due to income, cultural insensitivity, bias, or of a educators loss of love for educating today’s youth.

I knew becoming an early childhood and or elementary teacher was very competitive. As a result, I found that taking the necessary courses required by my state and passing state tests indicated that I am highly qualified which is needed to become a teacher and is one of the first things Human Resources Departments and administrators looks at before hiring you. I also found that having prior hands on experience by working with children, and a certified teacher to be influential in obtaining a job. In addition, I learned that being able to communicate both orally and in a written manor is a prerequisite because you have to communicate with administration, families, colleagues, students, and others on a regular basis in both formal and informal settings. 

 Bergen County Board of Social Services works within the guidelines of Federal and State Statutes to help individuals and families meet their basic needs so that they can have a better quality of life. In addition, Bergen County Board of Social Services collaborates with community resources and services through a networking agency. Through this agency, families are able to gain access to food stamps, child support, child care subsidy, and welfare services. For employment in this area as a social worker, one must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, and a Master’s Degree and a minimum of 2years experience in this field.
 Head Start- is a child development program which was created in 1965 to help put an end to poverty. This program serves economically disadvantaged preschool aged children and also provides services to pregnant women and children from birth to five years of age. Head Start does exactly what its name is, it gives children a “head start” at life by providing them with nutritional meals, and the tools they need so that they are prepared for their next academic level while also educating their mothers on various topics such as health and nutrition care for their young. Head Start is one of the most successful programs created by the Federal Government because it provides children with a safe learning environment, they learn social skills, and are nourished and can have some health concerns address.  In order to qualify for this program, families must meet the Federal Poverty standards which do not reflect the cost of living in New Jersey.  
For a position as a Health Coordinator for Early Head start Programs, one must be a self starter, dedicated and willing to make a difference in the lives of infants, toddlers, and their families. One must be able to administer First Aid and CPR, maintain healthy and safety plans, and train staff.  For this position, one must have a RN BSN Degree, a minimum of 2 years experience, excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, Strong public health and administrative skills; being bilingual is a plus English/Spanish or English/Portuguese.

Even Start Family Literacy is a literacy program that is designed to improve the quality of life of children from birth to seven years of age; this is designed to increase their vocabulary with the hopes of children reading on grade level by age 7. This program also empowers parents to become their child(rens) first teachers, drawing on the home and family unit as the most influential learning environment.  For employment in this area, one must hold a Bachelors Degree, teaching experience preferably in Language Arts, excellent communication skills, and experience working with children from birth to age 10.

References

http://www.bcbss.com. Retrieved on March 15, 2013
http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcdhs/divisions/children.htm. Retrieved on March 15, 2013

http://www.state.nj.us/education/titles/title1/even/. Retrieved on March 15, 2013

Hi Class,

 I wasn't able to create my Wordle  as suggested, so I posted them below... but I am so passionate about the words I selected  because they speak to my heart and clearly state how I feel regarding early childhood education.


Passion
Partnership
Commitment
Learning
Empower
Children
Quality Care
Respect 



Nicky