A Look into Poverty

Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org)


The country that I chose to look at was China. Three insights that I gained from the sight was:

1.  4.2 million Children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions. Both of these have declined since the 1900s.

2. "As the structure of the economy has changed, the social security system has had to adapt to protect people from different forms of poverty. Up to 1992, in urban areas, only people without work, with no savings and with no family to depend on were eligible for financial support.  A Minimum Living Standards  system has been developed since 1997 and by 2002 covered 23 per cent of poor urban households. Though this is the main form of social relief in urban China, there are concerns that the amounts allocated are too small to meet people's basic needs for food, clothing shelter, health and education and in particular, aren't enough to allow families to pay the compulsory education fee."

3. Between 4 and 8 per cent of the urban population, somewhere between 15 and 31 million people live in poverty

Sharing Resources

The website that I chose to share was the NAEYC.  (www.naeyc.org) 

Founded in 1926, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 80,000 members, a national network of more than 300 state and local Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations. 

As I read through and explored the website..I found some information on Childhood Obsity and prevention. Childhood Obesity really interests me and I find it sad that more and more children are having to face this issue.  In 2010 the NAEYC received a grant from the Robert Johnson Foundation that helped spread the word about Childhood Obesity and prevention. Through the grant, NAEYC was about to work with state and local affiliates to provide  resources to advocates and early childhood programs. Here is a small list of the many resources that I found helpful:


Early Sprouts": Establishing Healthy Food Choices for Young Children (Young Children, Vol. 64, No. 4, 49-55. Copyright © 2009 NAEYC)

• The Food Friends: Encouraging Preschoolers to Try New Foods (Young Children, Vol. 61, No. 3. Copyright © 2006 NAEYC)
• HAPPE: Toddlers in Physical Play with Extra: Ideas for engaging toddlers in indoor and outdoor physical play activities (Young Children, Vol. 61, No. 3, 32-34. Copyright © 2006 NAEYC)
• Healthy Lunches and More (Teaching Young Children, Vol. 2, No. 4, 24-27. Copyright © 2009 NAEYC) 
• The Impact of Teachers and Families on Young Children's Eating Behaviors (Young Children, Vol. 66, No. 2, 84-88. Copyright © 2011 NAEYC) 
• Increasing Children's Physical Activity (Teaching Young Children, Vol. 4, No. 3, 6-7. Copyright © 2011 NAEYC)

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity envisions a nation in which all children—regardless of race, ethnicity, family income level or geography—live in communities and attend schools that encourage and support healthy eating and physical activity. If we can successfully realize this vision, we will reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

As I read through some of the resources and about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, I was really amazed at the devastating impact childhood obesity really has on children. The changes have to start some where and start small in order to see an improvement in this epidemic. 

Website and Professional Contacts from Around the World

The website that I chose to use as a resource is Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://www.zerotothree.org),         ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. I really enjoyed researching this website because of my love for Early Intervention.

The Professional Resources:

I chose the Global Alliance of NAEYC to contact professionals from around the world. The Four professionals that I chose to correspond with are:

Ireland
OMEP Irish National Committee
Nippa - the Early Childhood Organization
Siobhan Fitzpatrick
Email: siobhanf@nippa.org

Haiti
Step by Step Program / Tipa Tipa
Dominique Hudicourt
Email: tipatipa@hainet.net

Romania
Step by Step Centre for Education and Professional Development
Carmin Lica
Email: carmenlia@dnt.ro
Netherlands
International Step by Step Association
Sarah Klaus
Email: sklaus@issa.nl

I just started this project so I have yet to hear back from any of the four professionals.