Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

            My first organization is based locally, but it a funded by the State of California. The overall organization is called First5, but each office is located in a specific county. First5 offers all different types of programs to anyone with a child under the age of five. Not only do they provide new parents information and avenues to local resources, the offices also provide developmentally age appropriate classes for families to attend each week. Furthermore, the organization offers home visiting services, parent support, literacy programs, child care quality information and preschool scholarships. Within the organization I was able to find two positions that are within my county of residence. One job title is a Family Support Specialist and the other one is a Program Supervisor of the Family Support Specialists. Both require a bachelor’s degree, 12 ECE units, two years of experience in the field and bilingual in Spanish.

            My second organization is Head Start. Although it is federally funded, each location is situated inside schools and child care centers that exist in every county. The Head Start organization for Contra Costa County provides full or part day programs, Early Head Start for children up to the age of 3 and a home-based model that provides home visits. The county lists quite a few different positions within the Head Start organization: infant/toddler teacher, master teacher, site supervisor positions and program manager positions. Each position has specific requirements. However, I have realized that I will need to start out teaching because all upper positions require teaching experience.

            My third organization is directly related to my Capstone Project. Parents As Teachers is an organization that provides resources and information on the topic of parent involvement and the benefits to each child. On the website, a specific job is posted that relates to acquiring funds from other organizations to continue Parents As Teachers goals each year. Although it requires three years of experience in the “art” of acquiring funds, which I lack, I would still love to have a position such as this one. I think it would be highly rewarding to know that I am a part of the funding process, which would bring the issues and topics of parent involvement to others on a larger scale.