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

The first organization that came to mind when contemplating grander job opportunities was Zero To Three. I first learned about them during this program of study, and I have loved everything they stand for and against. Their passion and dedication for families and children is inspiring.

I couldn't find any listed career opportunities that appealed to me, except for the potential of an internship. For some reason, the idea of dipping into the different levels of this organization is fascinating to me. I would have the opportunity to work with parents, professionals, and policy makers. Qualifications include being currently enrolled in a graduate program. Well that works :)

The second organization I researched was the NAEYC, National Association for the Education of Young Children. I very much look up to them as leaders in this field, and find their resources helpful and plentiful. I couldn't find a job posting that suited me, but I was very interested in their professional development opportunities. They provide extensive classes and trainings to advance one's career, and I think that in itself would be worth joining!

My third musing isn't an actual listed job opening, but it's something I am very interested in since writing the week 3 paper on historical context. I learned that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is aligned with two prominent professionals in the study of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). I am so moved and passionate about this and the practice of trauma-informed care. I would love to work on the studies being conducted around this topic! My qualifications would be that I am a professional with an MS degree and a Capstone project surrounding the topic at hand. :)

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State

The three organizations and communities of practice I chose to explore are IRCO, CASA, and Children First for Oregon.

IRCO, or Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, is especially appealing to me. IRCO is a local organization focused on serving community and mainstream needs, along with incoming immigrants and refugees in Portland, Oregon. They work to sensitively and bravely to empower families, kids, and elders worldwide by offering over 200 services focused on culture and linguistics.

Currently, they are hiring community organizers and child mentors. I would be very interested in becoming a child mentor. I would need to be dependable and have experience working with children and families within the framework of cultural sensitivity.

CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a well-known organization helping children go through the trauma of courts and foster placement. They are a collective of beautiful hearts working tirelessly and voluntarily to advocate for children. The branch in Portland Oregon is currently hiring a supervisor. This sounds like a very intense job. The supervisor oversees the volunteer CASA's. To be considered, I must meet the following requirements:

 degree in social work, psychology, human services, or related field.

  3-5 years experience in a field serving children or families.

  Experience in volunteer management, competence in and commitment to the field of child welfare or child and family services. A solid knowledge base regarding child abuse and neglect, advocacy, family dynamics, cultural issues, family court, and the social service system required. A demonstrated commitment to cultural competence is essential.

Children First for Oregon is exceptional in its vision to fight child abuse and provide foster youth advocacy. They work closely with local and state governance, and collect and provide an abundance of research. They are an amazing resource for research. Currently, they are working on collecting voices for the upcoming governor elections. They are seeking individuals to help with campaigning. People who are passionate, organized, and driven by a deep care for children and families.

•