Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/advocacy-from-awareness-to-action/5022923/
Children need advocates. They need you. Early childhood professionals are engaged with our children’s needs, day in and day out. As early childhood professionals, advocacy is as crucial as our passion for our work. We are experts in early development and learning. Who else is better equipped to advocate for policies that support young children and their families and to promote excellence in our field? According to Dictionary.com, an advocate is: “A person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person or a cause.” As those who are the most knowledgeable about early care and education, we are perfectly suited to use our voices in support of young children and their families.
Advocacy can sometimes be overlooked as a fundamental aspect of our work. We may not be aware of the issues and policies that directly impact our field. For some, advocacy can seem complicated or intimidating. In this article, we will provide information on the key policy issues that face our field on a national level and describe ways you can be involved. Let’s begin with a simple explanation of what advocacy is: the shift from awareness to action.
Awareness to Action
The ...