5 STAGES OF TEAM DEVELOPMENT

I have belonged to many groups of people working together. I have been a PTA member where the goals were to identify and eradicate any obstacles in the way of our children having a quality education. I have been part of study groups in nursing school. We bonded because we all had the goals of passing our exams and gaining our licenses. I am presently in a neighborhood beautification group. We gather every Saturday morning that we are available to clean up and plant flowers on a dead end block around the corner from me. My undergrad experience with groups here at Walden University had me in classes with some of the same people. We had the goal of getting our Baccalaureate degree. I did meet a few classmates at graduation, but sadly many did not even show up for graduation. The groups usually have a closing celebration after a task is completed. I usually remember the members with fond memories but we usually don't exchange personal information after reaching our goals unless we have something else personal in common. The group of classmates I have met during my Graduate classes has been similar. Some of us have had all our classes together so far. Soon we will split to our concentrated courses. Hopefully I will get to meet some of the students at graduation next year. The adjourning phase is important because this is when the group can celebrate their success of the project. If there was not success, this is where brainstorming could be done to discover why the project was not a success. Adjournment brings closure. If the group was a high performing group there will be sadness about the conclusion of the project. If the group was low performing without success it will be easier to leave the team. I do hope my Walden University closure will provide the opportunity to keep in touch with some of the other students

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CONFLICT RESOLUTION

I don't usually have conflicts. Maybe once a year on my job. I work for NYPD. There are so many bosses..sergeants, lieutenants, captains, commanders etc. Then there are civilians like myself. We work as a team at my job. Everyone knows how to do every aspect of the job...whether it is drug testing, writing review slips, giving instructions to candidates etc. Another civilian had disrespected me by slamming a door after saying a derogatory remark to me. At first I was going to avoid the situation but avoidance is not the way to go. If you avoid someone disrespecting you, it will happen again and again. I confronted this person coming from a place of being disrespected and not liking it. Her voice was raised and so was mine. We were in an enclosed room but I was so mad at myself for letting her take me to that place. I just said what I had to do not so nicely and that was the end of it. I walked away to continue doing my job. Now this person is someone who I am very close to usually but when she is pressed for time working she can sometimes get anxious and nervous. It bothered me all that evening after I had left the workplace. The next day I said "Good Morning" to her and she answered begrudgingly. Later that day I went in her office and touched her shoulder and said "you know I hate when we argue". That was the end of that episode. We continue to work together but in the back of my mind, I know she can loose it at any time so I am alert to any change in behavior. The way that we handled that situation was a lose-lose situation. We both were yelling, not listening to the other and were acting very unprofessional for about 30 seconds. We should have made that a win-win situation by discussing what set her off and dealing with that issue. Instead I chose to ignore her in the beginning which probably is the reason that her temper escalated. By discussing the situation and arriving at a solution that satisfied both of us, we both would have remained calm and professional in the workplace.

COMMUNICATION SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF SELF TEST RESULTS

This weeks assignment allowed us to take self-tests on our communication styles, techniques and listening skills. Secondly, we were to ask two friends/acquaintances/relatives that are close to us to take the same tests also. After tallying the results, we were to compare the results for any differences or similarities. I was most surprised that my anxiety level was visible to others prior to speaking in front of others. I researched our textbook to find that in some cases rather than anxiety, I have communication apprehension. Communication apprehension is described as "when an individual feels uncomfortable participating in a group conversation" (O'Hair & Wiemann). I do feel comfortable if I am sitting in a group talking but if I have to step to a podium in front of a crowd of people then anxiety sets in. One insight that I gained insight to is communication processing. This is one aspect of communication where I am sure there is a glitch in some people's minds. On my job, instructions have to be given daily to adults. Many understand but many need the information to be repeated more than once. These instructions are simple. I believe some people may have problems with their communication processing by being distracted by the thought of having to be undressed in front of others which blocks their processing. Another insight was the interaction appearance theory. I have learned that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Appearances have nothing to do with the job a person might have. It is not until you begin to interact with someone that you learn all about them.

CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

I communicate with many people of my many walks of life. With my nurse friends we have our own jargon others would not understand. With close friends, I tend to use low language with slang words which we both can understand. Examples are "word", which means the truth and "school" which means to teach a lesson to someone. I am able to be informal with them. I have friends that are Filipino, Asian, Hispanic, Italian, East Indian etc. Close friends and occupational friends are the closest people to me and we understand each other because of our similarities communication is understood fully. Perhaps being more of an active listener will benefit me sometimes because I tend to speak more than listen. This would make me a better communicator with them. Supervisors at work who are sergeants, lieutenants, and captains. I use standard English with proper grammar with them. I can call it politically correct language. I have a tendency to speak low. One strategy is to speak louder, capture my audience and interact fully with them. I sometimes have to speak to Non Native English speakers. I use simpler words, which are easier to understand. I also use accommodation by changing my style of communication to adapt to them. For example when I worked in the Pediatrics ER, I would say "amarillo libro" which means yellow book for immunization book. Eventually I would say "tarjeta vacuna" which means yellow card and the parent would understand fully. One strategy I can use for Non Native English is to look out for non verbal cues if there is an interruption in communication. It helps to be aware of non verbal cues as well as verbal cues.

VERBAL AND NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

I decided to watch an episode of L.A. Hair. This show revolves around a hair salon for celebrities in Los Angeles. There are 8 main characters who all work for the salon. There are different ethnicities and genders. Everyday a different group of clients come in to get services. The communication I observed was smiles, eyebrows raised, touching, rolling of the eyes, grimacing and direct eye contact. I could see which personnel got along with the other personnel.

I could tell from facial expressions if the conversation was pleasant or not. One client was verbally insulted and the look of anger on her face was clearly understood. When I heard the conversation, I could clearly understand why she was grimacing. The hairdresser spoke negatively about her dandruff. I believe my assumptions would have been correct if I were a regular viewer of this show. I find that even in relationships that actions speak louder than words. By just observing you can see that a person is happy, sad, angry, tired, grouchy etc. I am very intuitive when it comes to observation I think in part to learning nursing assessment, so I see and notice everything that others don't see. It annoys some people, but to me I think it is a perk........Reference www.wetv.com/shows/la-hair/episodes/season-3 Season 3 Episode 1: Chair Battle Royale

COMPETENT COMMUNICATOR

Upon reading about the blog assignment this week. The first person who cam to mind was Mrs. Michelle Obama, the wife of the President of the United States. She speaks with such ease to crowds each time I hear her speak. Whenever Mrs. Obama speaks, she has my full attention. She has the ability to engage her audience completely. I googled her speech techniques and ran across an article "Michelle Obama's Speech: Poise, Passion, Presence". Those are all the features that I witness. She is poised, has clarity, no signs of anxiety, has passion in her eyes and in her tone of voice. She is also very present. She is concentrating on the audience she is trying to reach. All these factors make her communication style admirable to me. The warm smile and eye contact express her interest in the audience. Ye I would want to model my own communication behaviors after her. I tend to get nervous when speaking in front of large crowds. My voice starts cracking and then it gets low to a whisper. At least that was the experience 20 years ago in an Oral Communication course. I wish I showed some of the same poise that she does............. DiResta, Diane. (2012,Sep5). Michelle Obama's Speech: poise, passion, presence. Knockout Blog. DiResta Communications, Inc. Retrieved from www.diresta.com/michelle-obamas-poise-passion-presence/

PROFESSIONAL HOPES AND GOALS

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that they receive a non-biased, quality education equal to every other child in the classroom. The color, religion, culture shouldn't correlate with the education that they receive. I hope the parents get to have dialogue with the educator on a continuous basis so that they have full understanding of the curriculum and protocols. One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is that cultural diversity forums be scheduled at least three times a year for colleagues to confer and gain knowledge and awareness from each other. Thank you to my colleagues for your supports, comments and enlightening. I have learned so much in this course that I definitely will take from this experience. Good Luck in all your future classes. Keep striving!!!

WELCOMING FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Denmark is the name of my family's country of origin. In Denmark schools strive to provide children with academic skills, general competencies and opportunities for diverse, personal development. They also facilitate an atmosphere of equality and freedom of spirit. The world famous Lego building toys are from Denmark. If the classroom doesn't have any, I would invest in some for the classroom so that the child will have something familiar to play with. In Denmark children spend 3-4 hours per day outside tending to forests, gardens and playing. I would allow outdoor time to plant gardens. Denmark also also encourages the children to choose with what to play and with whom to play with. I would allow the children in class to have free time to do what they want for a little while. This will enforce there abilities to make choices. Denmark believes in Vygotskys's theory that social interaction fosters cognitive functions. Parents will be invited to the classroom and have one on one meetings with the educators to discuss the curriculum. Early childhood educators in Denmark value parent-child-educator interactions. I will continue to instill the importance of this vital communication. In keeping up with Denmark norms hopefully the transition to American education will be a smooth one for the child and the family...........References: www.eupedia.com/denmark/trivia.shtml www.oecd.org/education/schools/2475168.pdf pure.au.dk/ws/files/815/critical_perspectoves_on_danish_early_childhood_education_and_care_pure_.pdf

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF BIAS, PREJUDICE, AND OPPRESSION

I was 29 when I watched a movie called "Do The Right Thing" in 1989, with shock and dismay. This movie revolved around a hot summer in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, which is 90% Black. The story centered on an Italian pizzeria where all the Blacks spent their money. In this establishment, all the pictures on the wall were famous Italians. There on the walls were Frank Sinatra, Rocky Graziano and Tony Benett among others. The Blacks thought they should be represented on the walls too since they were the ones spending their money there. Sal, the owner, fought hard tooth and nail by saying no, it was his shop and that he could decorate the shop anyway he wanted to. One day all the tensions exploded. There was a brawl in which the pizza shop was destroyed by the Blacks. The owner and his sons were fighting against the Blacks also. A key player in the neighborhood and a neighborhood fixture Radio Raheem was killed in the melee by the cops. This movie diminished equity by the refusal of the owner to display any Black people on his walls. The feelings I felt went from rage to sadness that this incident could've been avoided. On one hand it was the owner's prerogative to put what he wanted on his walls. On the other hand tensions were rising and to keep the peace, one picture on the wall may have satisfied the need of acceptance by the neighborhood. The owner would have had to make the change. It was his opportunity to do the right thing. Reference:

Do The Right Thing. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097216/

PRACTICING AWARENESS OF MICROAGGRESSIONS

I experienced a microassault once in a bank. There were at least 6 people on line. When it was my turn the teller looked at the next person in line and said "How can I help you?". For a second I thought I was living in the twilight zone. I am not a small person that someone can overlook. I was in a little bit of a shock for about 30 seconds. After that period I said "Excuse me, but am I invisible? I was standing next in line!". The teller acted like she hadn't even seen me standing there. She tried to laugh off the matter. I was born and raised in New York. As a minority, being African American, we do not put up with racism too well. Some of my counterparts that may live in other regions of America may fear being outspoken but we do not. After that she acknowledged me but I am sure if I was some type of docile, introvert she would have skipped right over giving me any kind of customer service. I felt outrage, it really doesn't take much for me. I dislike inequality and unfairness, for anyone. I have spoken up for other people also when I see something being done unjustly. It didn't matter what skin color they had, if they are being treated poorly, I will bring their attention to it. James Baldwin stated in one of our articles this week that "the messages of racism teach that the lives of racialized peoples are dispensable and disposable, that the work of racialized peoples is less valuable, that the thinking of racialized people is less useful, that the concerns of racialized peoples are trivial" (Mables & Mables, 2010). In that moment the teller made me feel devalued. After a brief and to the point chat, I hope she learned a lesson that you cannot treat or mistreat people in the way that she did. Reference Margles, S., & Margles, R. M. (2010). Inverting racism's distortions. Our Schools/Our Selves, 19(3), 137--149. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=51372248&site=ehost-live&scope=site

PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE

I asked three co workers about their thoughts on the definitions of diversity and culture. Friend#1 is a 42 year old male from the Dominican Republic. His definition of culture was the attitudes and behavior of a particular group. His definition of diversity was that people from different backgrounds that live in the same area or town. Participant #2 was a 44 year old Puerto Rican woman. She said to her culture meant background, heritage, and cultures. Her definition of diversity was whether you are Black or White, where your family is from, the education you have received, your neighborhood and social class. The third participant was a 45 year old woman from Colombia. She felt that culture was values , experiences, ways of cooking shared by a group of people. Diversity to her was people from different countries with different religions, co-existing with others from other countries. I discovered that no matter who you ask..no two definitions are going to be the same. In this course we have read about how children of all cultures should be able to receive a great education regardless of background. We have learned how important for children to learn about each other and also learn about how similar and how they have differences too.(Derman-Sparks). In this class we have also read about how some people identify all Asian ethnic groups as Chinese. (Ngo). Despite the way we look alike, each culture is unique and different. African Americans, African and Caribbeans all look alike. That is our similarity. Our cultures are different. It is important to accept others for who they are not for what they are.

MY FAMILY CULTURE

The three items I would take with me to my new destination that will represent my family culture would include a DVD boxed set of the "ROOTS" documentary. ROOTS was a made for television documentary made in 1977 by Alex Haley, depicting the history of Africans and their travels to America due to the kidnapping by the British in Africa. It was a harsh and at times hard to visualize but it is my story. I would also bring with me a photo album of family pictures taken at family reunions. Black family reunions are positive cultural events usually held annually or biannually by family members at different host cities. They celebrate the strengths and traditional values of the African American family. The 3rd item would be a cast iron skillet used for cooking and frying. In Africa cast iron pots would be used to cook on in open pits. Slaves also used these skillets/pots in slavery in the Southern states. Today these skillets are still a mainstay in African American homes. I would feel sad if I would have to give up two of the items upon my arrival to the island. They all have equal importance. When I first read this blog assignment hastily, I thought I had to just bring 3 items, immediately I thought IPOD, batteries and my phone. Then I reread the details, I had to give some thought to the exercise to realize what was truly a representation of myself. It was an interesting exercise which caused me to think deeper. Reference http://www.soul=food-advisor.com/Soul-Food-History.html http://www.ncnw.org/events/reunion_history

.htm

WHEN I THINK OF RESEARCH

Insights I have gained about research from taking this course include learning so many new terms and methods used in research studies. I always thought that research was a simple process when in fact it is a very complicated process. New terms include triangulation, variable, equity, quantitative, etc. Lessons that I have learned that it takes a huge amount of methodology and step by step techniques to begin and implement a study. There are many parameters included in research. You have to choose a topic, who the participants will be, what methodology you will use, the timeframe you want to study, and the analysis interpretation that will be used. Challenges in this course were the new vocabulary used: qualitative, paradigm, positivism, etc. were a just a few of the terms used that needed full understanding before you could begin to start a research study. The funny thing is that the week we learned about triangulation, I went to the movies and saw "Captain America 2". During the film triangulation was mentioned and I smiled to myself because I had just learned about this and I was seeing it used in the movie. What a coincidence that was! My perception of early childhood professionals has been modified by discovering how much hard work goes into doing a study. It takes time and diligence to conduct a research study correctly. Informed consents and thorough analysis of data collected will result in valid results. Thank you classmates for all the support given to me in this course. Good Luck in future courses!!

RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD

I researched the Early Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) topics. I read about the topic of "Assessment of Interaction and Stimulation in Single Mothers with Low Income Families". This study was used to create guidelines that will initiate a closer bond between parents and their children, identify and stimulate children living in single parent homes and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the childcare givers in Malawi. Another topic was "Utilizing Indigenous Stories in the Promotion of Early Childhood Development Programs in Uganda". This project stressed the importance o storytelling in child development much like we in the United States stress reading storybooks to children even while in the womb. There were topics of encouragement for fathers to get involved with their children's care, model training programs in Ghana and assessing school readiness in Kenya. I was surprised by the fact that the topics were so similar to the norms of what we research here in the Unites States. I have never been to Africa but when I think of Africa I mainly think of rural areas with not much emphasis on education. Clearly this is not the case. Africa is thriving and trying to make childhood education a major issue. They are developing teacher training curriculums and initiating programs focused on supporting childcare programs for working families. Education is the key to making a better society. I am glad that Africa is moving in the right direction......................http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

RESEARCH THAT BENEFITS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES--UPLIFTING STORIES

Numerical rating scales (NRS) involve estimates of pain shown to children to describe their pain levels. These pain scales are used in children over the age of 8 years. At this age the children can verbalize and clearly and have the ability to think and decide. There are many of these pain scales. Many of the scales have not been researched thoroughly. As a pediatric nurse, I used these scales frequently and responses were usually valid. Here is an example of a pain scale:

.........Pain Research and Management. National Institute of Health. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC253905/

MY PERSONAL RESEARCH JOURNEY

I've decided to research the effects of death of a child's pets and/or loved one. I also want to research how I as a caregiver/educator can assist with teaching coping skills to children. So far I have learned that reputable websites most often end in edu, org, or gov. I will be very careful in choosing the sites I pick for my research information. I do not know anyone who has done this research before. I think it is an important topic because death strikes everyone regardless of age. Qualitative research will be done to show the meaning or significance of death and it's affect on children ages 5-13 years old. I will take a qualitative approach to learn how children understand and make sense of the topic. Do any of my colleagues have any insights or advice dealing with this subject? Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

FINAL BLOG ASSIGNMENT

The first consequence I learned was that education is our primary focus, while countries like Kenya have childhood education and other concerns for their children. In Kenya the educators have incorporated water purification and the children education together. The children live in houses without running water or toilets. The water was muddy. The children and teachers purified the water together. The children have acquired skills and improved their self esteem. We have hardships in America but our water supply is not damaged. Other countries have education as an obstacle along with other issues at times. In America at least we can concentrate on the education needed for our children......www.OMEP-USNC.org Another consequence I have learned is that children do have advocates like Hillary Clinton and Marion Wright Edelman. The sad part is that most of children's advocates are women and the government is made up of mostly men. Possibly children's advocates are not heard loudly or understood. Another consequence was that unfortunately as hard as I tried I couldn't get an ECE professional from another country to correspond with me. I was kind of disappointed at first because I was so hyped at the prospect of networking and learning new things about the International Child Resource Institute and its child abuse prevention curriculum. Educators become trained in child abuse detection, intervention and prevention all for the safety of the children....www.icrichild.org/Kenya. One goal for the early childhood field is to come together globally , discuss and make educated solutions on how to effectively educate our children, develop strategies and collaborate together continuously through seminars and workshops. Two heads are better than one and more than two is excellent!

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS PT 3

UNESCO's "Early Childhood Care and Education" website enlightened me on many issues. In 1993, nine highly populated countries Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan launched the E-9 Initiative. The countries are home to nearly half of all the world population under the age of 14. The initiative is aimed at achieving progress in basic education. The principals meet every two years to discuss the progress of the goals. Goals include improve access and equity in early childcare and education in these countries. UNESCO is the leading agency in education helping all oountries develop and reform education systems from early childhood to adulthood. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) provides the holistic development of children from birth till 8 years old. Primary and Secondary education is geared towards building a foundation to ensure lifelong learning opportunities for all. Higher education for adults in is the key to developing societies that all learners acquire knowledge skills, attitudes and values to be used lifelong. UNESCO is also a supporter of gender equality. They promote the right to education for all. They advocate for girls education through the Global Partnership for Girls and Women's Education. They also promote gender equality in national education laws, policies and plans. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

The World Organization For Early Childhood Education's goal is to ensure that every child, no matter what background, race or location is entitled to a great education. It is a non-profit child advocacy organization. In 1948, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) have policies in place to guarantee that all children have the right to good health, well-being, and education so that they can develop their full potential. One committee the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), believes that if we give children all the tools they need to learn society as a whole will benefit. Leading economists agree that the best economic decision a country can make is to invest in the children. (ECEC) promotes equity for all children regardless of disabilities, location, rich, or poor. The World Organization For Early Childhood Education (OMEP) is made up of college professors, preschool teachers, parents policymakers, librarians doctors, nurses, advocates and activists. All are working toward the goal of equity globally in the early childhood education. (OMEP) is the oldest and largest international organization that focuses on early childhood education. www.omep-usnc.org

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS PT. 2

Unfortunately I still have not heard from any contacts. I went on the Developing Child website to learn more about global childhood systems around the globe. Innovation in Washington State began in 2011. It involves leaders, parents, and policymakers who get together and work on possible solutions to get the resources for a better education to the children who are in need. In Brazil there is the Executive Leadership Course which constitutes policymakers and managers who collaborate on the science of early childhood development. The course started in 2012. Policymakers include congressmen, civil leaders and city secretaries. They all work together for 3 months to develop science based action plans to strengthen early childhood policies. Un Buen Comienzo, which translates to A Good Start is an early childhood education project in Santiago, Chile. Its' Goal is to improve the language development of 4-6 year olds, parental involvement in education, improvement in school attendance and socioemotional development. There seems to be a movement globally to get children on equal learning fields, in attempt to leave no child behind. There appears to be many programs locally and globally. The question is: how many parents are really aware of these programs? I would never have learned about the many educational programs if I had not taken this course. As I learn, I pass on information to others that may need it. Reference http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

One of the websites I have been visiting is the International Child Resource Institute concentrating on Kenyan schooling. There is the Kid Safe Project which is a new child abuse prevention program which builds awareness of the subject concentrating on detection, intervention and prevention. Participants are also trained in child advocacy and child abuse prevention policies. Over 45 child advocates have been trained. I tried to research the statistics on child abuse in Kenya and I couldn't see a definitive amount of children that were abused in Kenya. Information was not readily available. There are lots of statistics on the United States but I found nothing on Kenya's statistics on child abuse. Makes me wonder why it is not readily available to the public. Thriive is another program ran in Kenya by the Arthur B. Schultz Foundation that loans money to small business owners. The loan holders in turn payback their loans by contributing to community based organizations serving low income children and families. It's enabling one hand to wash another in a sense. Inadvertently, it is also the rich giving money to the poor. Thus allowing the families to better themselves and lift their families out of poverty. The whole community benefits from this process. Reference www.icrichild.org/kenya

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS

Well unfortunately, I haven't heard from any of the contact I sent messages to in Week 1. I have begun a search again. I found a website for The World Organization For Early Education (www.OMEP-usnc.org). This organization was created in 1946, after WWII. A small group of educators and others came together with concern for the welfare of young children. OMEP promotes the well being rights and education of young children. While I was there I saw a story of a Kenyan educator that started her own school on a farm and is getting the children involved in purifying their drinking water. I emailed her and I also emailed the writer of the OMEP newsletter that was from Sweden. Hopefully I hear back from one of them. I also went to www.educationworld.com and started a blog requesting correspondents from around the world. This website has educators from all over the world. I hope to hear from someone there also. Wish me luck.

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

I subscribed to two newsletters. The first one I chose deals with the early childhood educators in Haiti. Haiti was involved in an earthquake a few years ago and has not fully recovered yet. Families re still living in tents. Many children are not attending school regularly. The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) values innovation, diversity and actions. The Haiti Case Study follows the Tipa Tipa method that trains pre-school teachers and parents on personal development, community spirit and values. I was motivated by this newsletter to learn more about how the educators increase their personal development and how the education system was being improved in the aftermath of the natural disaster. This newsletter subscription site is at www.wise-qatar.org/content/wise-haiti-case-study-tipa-tipa. The second newsletter I subscribed to was from the International Child Resource Institute in Kenya. The Daraja Early Care Program enables Africa's poorest children to receive an high quality education in an activity driven environment. The newsletter also supports a Grassroots Advocacy Project which assists women, children and families with networking and mentoring. Kidsafe Project is a rights based child abuse prevention curriculum. They have training courses on child advocacy. I was drawn to this newsletter because this Institute is empowering the children and the families. Prevention of child abuse is a very important topic because we lose our children in this manner by caregivers who may not have coping mechanisms, mental illness or other ailments. This newsletter is located at www.icrichild.org/Kenya

ESTABLISHING PERSONAL CONTACTS

The first steps I took to find professional contacts outside of the United States was to research the websites the Professor gave us. I subscribed to www.icrichild.org/kenya newsletters. That site is from the International Child Resource Institute in Kenya. This institute builds access to high quality and developmentally appropriate early childhood education for Africa's poorest children. Since I used to sponsor a child in Dominica, I googled Dominica and early childhood educators. I came across the Pan American Health Organization, who named Austelle Lockhart as one of the Roving Caregivers. The caregivers teach the young children in Dominica. I actually reached out to Mr. Lockhart on Facebook. From the website www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance I discovered the Ajoke International School in Ghana ran by Mrs. Bimbo Are. I emailed her and asked could she be a professional contact for me. I also found on that website a Haiti Step by Step Program/Tipa Tipa. I emailed the head of that school also at the website given. My email was returned as undeliverable to that address. I then googled Haiti Tipa Tipa and found this website www.sise-qatar.org/content/wise-haiti-case-study-tipa-tipa. I emailed that site and signed up for the newsletters. I am waiting on responses now. I want to wish everyone good luck making contacts.