I am getting very emotional thinking about what to write! This has been a long journey for all of us, but I am sure none of us would change any of it for the world!  I learned so much from my classmates.  I love that we were able to share personal experiences and be there to support each other.  We all had a similar goal and we finally did it!! I have a tremendous amount of respect for my professor and my classmates.  What we do is not easy work and I am very proud of each and every one of you for your daily efforts.  We can change the world, ladies!

              

            I learned that if I set my mind to something, it is possible.  I though being a graduate of a master’s degree program was impossible.  I have shown that it is possible.  My passion for children and making them successful will be my motivation for success in my career.  I also learned that there are many resources that feel the same as I do and are there to help me.  There are others that want to make positive changes.  I learned about all of the many different directions I can go and approaches I can take with this degree.  I have yet to find my exact calling but I am very confident that I will find it!

  

Kimberly Butzen

Personal Email: butzenkimberly@gmail.com

Save the Children

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

Save the Children is an organization that includes 120 countries and 166 million children.  It also makes it possible for those who would like to become a child sponsor to a child in need.  The children who are sponsored can have access to health, education and early childhood care.  I have always been interested in sponsoring a child but have been wary about it because some organizations are scams and I want to be sure that my money was going to where it is supposed to. 

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

UNICEF is a great organization that offers many resources for children in need.  Child survival and development, protection and social inclusion, education and emergency aid are some of the main things that they are involved with. 

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.oecd.org/home/

The mission of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.  Governments work together to share goals and insights for benefiting the common good.  As I get older I always wonder why it’s so difficult for people to just work together to make things better for everyone. 

Job opportunities

Director of Children’s Programs - Bridge Communities-Glen Ellyn, IL.

Solidify relationships with all appropriate public school personnel of the school districts presently serving Bridge children, including homeless liaisons, social workers, and leaders of Specialized Services departments.  Serve as the primary advocate and communicator to internal and external stakeholders for the children’s programs, including staff, program partners and mentors, donors and other agencies. 

Early Childhood and Curriculum Specialist-YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago-Chicago, IL

Provides direct support to 3-5 year old classroom staff in effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning, assessment, evaluation and related research.  Develops and provides related trainings.  Provides coaching and mentors to teachers.

Care Management Specialist-Northshore University Health System-Evanston, IL

Provide coordination services and psychosocial support to high risk patient/families in the ambulatory and community setting.  Responsible for coordinating services delivered to a group of high risk patients that have complex health needs related to being at high risk for readmission post acute care episode, difficulty in adaptation to changes in health status or new chronic illness diagnosis or life altering events.

Unites States Department of Education

This resource provides parents, teachers, professionals and students with many different links to help in various areas of education.  It provides journal articles on educational material.

Family Planning National Training Centers

This resource offers anyone with health information technology, enrollment assistance, quality improvement, implementing male health services and sustainability. 

Scope Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education

The Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) was founded in 2008 to foster research, policy, and practice to advance high quality, equitable education systems in the United States and internationally.

Job opportunities

Director of Child Care Programs-Swedish Covenant Hospital Child Care Center- Mount Prospect, IL

This position requires someone responsible for organizing and managing the Swedish Covenant Hospital Child Care Center in accordance with accepted practice and established policies and procedures.  Build strong relationships with children and families, staff and hospital community.

Vice President, Child Welfare Programs-Kinnex Consulting-Chicago, IL

Oversee child welfare programs, lead strategies for product development, and implementation for child welfare programs Guide overall performance of health plan through child welfare programs.

Child Development Specialist-One Hope United-Des Plaines, IL

Conduct classroom observations, prepare child assessment results, oversee classroom documentation boards and learning center displays and ensure classroom portfolios are maintained according to NAEYC standards

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.

This is an organization that pairs up a child from a single-parent low income family with an adult volunteer.  I did this program for a year and was matched with a wonderful girl.  She felt that unwanted in her family.  She had poor grades and did not have many friends.  She was shy and timid.  I spent as much time with her as I could.  It is a wonderful program that lightens the spirit of children and makes them feel wanted.  These are children that need someone to show them that they are cared about and wanted.  Being with someone (even for a short time) that puts time and love into you could change your outlook and turn you into a more positive and happy person.

National Center for Children in Poverty

Poverty is a serious issue that unfortunately exists in the United States and other parts of the world.  This is an organization that assists families in times of need to properly support their children. 

1.  Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Subsidies

2.  Family and Medical Leave

3.  Income Tax Liability

4.  Minimum Wage Standards

5.  Public Health Insurance

6.  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

7.  State Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

8.  State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

9.  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

10.  Unemployment Insurance

 

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families

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 personally use this resource at work quite often.  I use it as a reference to get information about milestones and other issues about children in my center. 

Jobs that I am interested in:

Executive Director- MaryCraneCenter- Chicago, IL.

                Mary Crane Cente, founded in 1908, is a mid-size non-profit organization that promotes the comprehensive early development of young children through quality preschool education and family support services.  Overall operational and strategic responsibility of MCC’s execution of its mission through leadership/supervision of staff and programs.

Qualifications: Master’s degree preferred with 15 years of experience 

Parent Educator-Gads Hill Center-Chicago, IL.

                Parent Educator reports to the Lead Parent Educator.  MISSION: Gad’s Hill Center, a social service organization established in 1898, creates opportunities for children and their families to build a better life through education, access to resources and community engagement.  The Parent Educator provides education and family support to pregnant mothers and families with children ages birth to three enrolled in the Prevention Initiative Home Visiting Program.  The case manager is responsible for planning and implementing activities for assigned families during home visits. 

Qualifications: 4-year degree

Master Child Welfare Specialist- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois-Aurora, IL. 

                Provide therapy and clinical services to children and adults who are involved in the DCFS foster care system.

Qualifications: Master’s degree in Social Work or related field

              Or the school that I currently work for we do a lot of charity based projects.  A few months ago we all got together at a local pantry to short and package different meats that would be going to families who needed them.  It was an extremely gratifying experience to know that I had a hand in helping so many people.  After the event we all met for diner and discussed other ways our schools could work together to help others.  It is comforting to know that we are all in this together and willing to work together.  This project we were involved in ended very nicely.  The best part was a few weeks later, we received cards that the children and families who received food from the food pantry made and sent to us.  We proudly have them hanging in frames around the schools to remind us of the importance of teamwork and helping others.

                I have known some of you ladies from the Bachelor program and from other classes in the Master’s program.  We all have such busy lives but come together a few times a week to share insights and experiences.  I personally did not attend the commencement ceremony for my Bachelor’s degree but told myself that I actually want to walk up in a cap and gown and receive my Master’s degree.  It is a HUGE accomplishment for me and it is something I have always dreamed of, especially when others doubt me and tell me that it’s just a dream.  It is only more motivation for me to show them I can do it and prove everyone wrong!     

               I am currently the teacher in the “Waddler” (babies ages about 10 months-15 months).  I have co-teacher that does not have much experience in this field but she does very well, sometimes too well.  I will have an idea for a bulletin board to put up but before I can do that, she is already cutting out stencils and words to put up for that bulletin board.  She always says, “I just wanted to make things easier for you because you’re so busy”.  I know she just wants to help, but it is MY classroom and I work hard to find different ideas and projects to do.  I don’t want to hurt her feelings by saying I want to do something else but she does need to understand that this is what I have gone to school for and have many years of experience in.

                My boyfriend and I currently live in St. Charles, IL.  We live in a rather small apartment with my son who is 7.  Our lease is up in a month and we want to move to a bigger place.  I tell him that I want to stay in the same city so that it is close to my work and my son doesn’t have to change schools.  He travels all over for work so he doesn’t’ care where we live, but a different area will be a little cheaper for us.  Since he makes the majority of the money in our family, my basic response is to do whatever he wants to do.  Maybe if I communicated more openly with him he will realize how important certain things are to me?  I have been a single mother for 7 years, maybe I should just be thankful that my son and I have someone to take care of us and keep my opinions to myself?

For this week's blog I will be discussing the results of my communication assessments.  I assessed myself and also had tow other people in my life take the same assessment about me.

I cannot say that I was too surprised in the results.  I was seen as a good listener who takes into consideration that thoughts and feelings of others.  I am able to communicate very well one on one but often doubt myself making me overly nervous and anxious when speaking in from of a group of people.  My boyfriend, Matt, who knows me very well had almost the exact same thoughts about me as I had about myself.  He knows that I can communicate very well one on one but sometimes have a difficult time communicating to a group of people, often situational.  The other person that took the assessment was a co-worker of mine.  She sees how I communicate with parents and other staff.  I am always outgoing and very easy to talk to.  She assumed that since I was that way at work that I was typically the same way in many other situations.  She was very surprised when I told her I get very nervous and anxious to speak to a group of people.  She has not seen how I act in those situations and thought I was as open when speaking to a group of people as I am with the parents and staff at work.