Communities of Practice

Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children (MDAEYC)
The first organization that appealed to me is my local affiliation chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), MDAEYC. The reason why I chose this organization is because I feel they do exceptional work for and with the early childhood professionals in my state. There are always opportunities to work with other professionals in my area and discuss common problems that are sometimes relative only to the state of Maryland or my specific county.  The mission statement of this organization is very inspirational to me as an adult educator: "To empower those who care for and educate young children." It is also a good source for what is happening in the field and in the community. They are very hands-on when it comes to advocacy and public policy. There are always opportunities to get involved with public officials and fight for children and families.

Working at MDAEYC is mostly voluntary, which would be a great way for me to explore advocacy and public policy.

Family Services, Inc.
I chose Family Services, Inc. because of the services they offer the community, schools, children, and families. Family Services is committed to supporting the needs of families in Montgomery County, Md. through early childhood, educational, clinical, and behavioral health programs. They support children and teenagers struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. They support teachers in the classroom and build relationships between home and school. They also provide training and workshops for early childhood teachers.
This organization provides valuable social services to residents who otherwise would not have access to  counseling and therapy. The therapists and trainers have been very beneficial to my work in supporting teachers and children in the classroom with behavioral and learning issues.

Positions within this organization that interest me:

Early Childhood Trainers-Master's Degree in Early Childhood; Completed the Train the Trainers Course and Orientation; experience working with children 0-8 years old; knowledge of child development and best practices.

Available position:
Residential Advocate-provides support at facility serving women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. Duties include assistance with intake and orientation to shelter life, recreational activities, food service, transportation and facility upkeep. 
Qualifications: High school graduation or equivalency and two years experience in relevant program area. Oral fluency in Spanish language preferred, Must have valid driver’s license and availability for evening and weekend shifts. Must be able to lift 30 pounds, stand, sit, stoop, bend at the waist and knees and possess overall body flexibility. 

Maryland Family Network

The mission of this organization is to ensure that young children and their families have resources to learn and succeed. They provide programs to promote high quality child care, family support and services. They have taken initiative to develop a statewide, comprehensive system of support for pregnant women, children (birth-5yrs), their families and caregivers. This is my go to organization for early childhood resources.

They are currently looking for a Director, Baltimore City Child Care Resource Center, which I find very interesting.
The requirements for this job include:
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field; Master's preferred;
• Minimum of 10 years progressively more responsible experience in early childhood education, program management, and supervision;
• Strong communication and marketing skills in one-on-one settings, in large, diverse group settings of public and private entities, and in all situations in between;
• Knowledge of child development and the profession of child care;
• Proven ability to recruit, train, and supervise staff;

For more information, please visit:

http://www.mdaeyc.org/

http://marylandfamilynetwork.org/

http://www.familyservicesagency.org/index.html