Births in Rural Ethiopia

I read an article that detailed how the women in Ethiopia gave birth.  The information found is as follows:

"Most women in Ethiopia deliver at home.  Only 7% of Ethiopian women are assisted by a skilled birth attendant during childbirth and they have a 1 in 27 lifetime risk of dying in childbirth."  After reading this, it made me think about all of the complaining that we do in our everyday life and here we have women who can't even enjoy a moment that has been described as a special moment.

The article also went on to say the following:
"Many of them have obsteric fistula which is a hole that forms between a woman's rectum and vagina as a result of complicated or prolonged childbirth without appropriate obstetric care."

My experience with my sister was nothing compared to what these women have gone through.  For the most part, a clean facility was available to my sister and me.  Also, we had caring doctors.  I can not fathom the pain that these women must be experiencing or have experienced.  My heart goes out to them.

http://www.intrahealth.org

My Birthing Experience (EDUC 6160)

I don't have any children of my own but I was fortunate enough to watch my neice being born.  I was seventeen at the time and I really wasn't prepared for the birth of my neice.  I was young and immature and knew nothing about childbirth but I went in anyway because my sister had no one else.  Her husband was at work and my mother was out of town.  Needless to say, I also went in because I thought that it was my duty to take on that type of responsibility because after all, not only was she my sister, she was my best friend.  I heard the screaming and the doctor yelling push but after I saw the head coming, I fainted.  My experience was short as well as funny.  We laugh about it right now.  I am still happy that I got a chance to share in something that was important to her.  The whole experience soon became important to me as well because it is one of those things that few people get a chance to experience.  I am glad that I was able to get a glimps of something that I have yet to experience.

Thank You

Before starting Walden, I didn't know what a blog was nor did I know how to implement one.  I am glad that I found out so that I may connect with you.  I am kind of sad that this program is ending but I hope to continue blogging and chatting with you all in future classes.

NAEYC AND DEC CODE OF ETHICS

NAEYC CODE OF ETHICS

• Appreciating childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle:  In this particular code of ethics, it relates to me personally and professionally because I understand that as an individual that life begins within those primary stages and no one person develops within the same time frame.  We all have a beginning and that beginning has many changes and stages of growth that we experience but through it all, those stages of development and those experiences is what help shape us into the people that we are to become.
• Basing our work with children on knowledge of child development:  As a new person entering into unknown territory, I think that researching children within their early stages of development is going to help me to understand them. 
• Respecting the dignity, worth and uniqueness of each individual: As individuals, it is apparent that we are all different.  We don't react to things the same, nor are we going to agree on every topic that comes up.  We have to remain respectful of race, gender, sexual orientation and anything else that makes us different because after all, we have to work together and live together....we have to coexist in a world that is culturally diverse.

DIVISION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CODE OF ETHICS

• We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services:  In each field of study, there should be a partnership among the staff to ensure that new individuals are going to be briefed on every aspect of the job.  In order to do the job effectively, these people will have to know and understand how to do the job.  As a professional, I think that collaboration on a job helps to build teamwork and forms successful partnerships.
• We shall continually be aware of issues challenging the field of early childhood special education and advocate for changes in laws, regulations and policies leading to improved outcomes and services for young children with disabilities and their families:  In order to be aware, I feel that professionals should keep up with the laws that govern the field of early childhood education.  Being misinformed could put us in violation of the law.  Also, being informed makes us better able to serve the children and their families.  Originally, I thought that advocating took a lot of time and energy but I have since learned that just by being vocal about a subject that I am passionate about is a form of advocating.  Advocating for families benefit all involved because it brings forth awareness of problems in and around a particular area.
• We shall provide services and supports to children and families in a fair and equitable manner while respecting families' race, culture, language, socioeconomic status, marital status, and sexual orientation: When dealing with chiuldrend and families, one has to be mindful that regardless of who these people are, we have to be prepared to work with them.  After all, as professionals, sometimes, we have to place ourselves in their position and treat these individuals according to how we want to be treated.

Additional Resources

1. http://www.earlychildhood.org/
2. www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood
3. http://www.preschooleducation.com/

course resources

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/59896/CRS-CW-5089852/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
  • World Forum Foundation
    http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP’s mission. 
    
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/about/
    Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
  
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
     

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education