Observing and Interacting With Famailies of the Children in Your Setting

The family that I interacted with and observed consist of two sisters who are ages 17 and 21, who both have two small children who attend the childcare center and the mother of these two sisters. I explained to these two sisters and their mother that I was researching teen pregnancy and that I was gathering information from families to begin my advocacy efforts to meet the needs of the families affected by this issue. The mother of the two sisters stated that she and her daughters all need some support and guidance. During our conversation she revealed that she too was a teen mother and that she believes that the cycle has continued, because of the lack of support or preventive services. One of her daughters is in school, but the 17 year old has not completed high school and that her very basic dreams are that her daughters just complete high school and find decent jobs and that her grandchildren are not apart of the cycle.

     During our conversation I explained my desire and passion to help many young girls who are in the same or similar situation. I believe that this family is in desperate need of support and guidance, I gave the family  the names of some preventive services,  and alternative schools that can help get these girls on the right track. I told them that they have taken the first step, by enrolling their children in a high quality program, which gives them the opportunity and time away from their children to continue with their education, even past the high school level. I explained how imperative it is for them to follow up with the referral's to ensure that they have the education and skills  needed to take care of and raise a family.

Observing and Interacting WithProgram Director (s) and Other Staff.

During this week I spoke with a Director of a center based program, who  has a Master's degree  in early childhood education, with 20 years  of experience in the  field. In her center she admitted that they do not have many advocacy efforts in place for their teens, but, they do encourage the parents to attend parent meeting and workshops that are offered at the center. She did say that the center advocates for  the teachers, by providing stress relief and balancing work with family. Because they are aware the hard, but rewarding work that  the field requires. Administrators are very busy professionals, who are always looking for great ideas and suggestions on how to make the early childhood field an even greater place. I plan to work with the administrator by presenting my advocacy issue and begin communicating some of my ideas of how her center could advocate for their teen parents.

Observing and Interacting With Professionals/Colleagues in My Setting

During these past few weeks I have spent some time in the field observing and gathering some information about some current issues that teen and young mothers experience. During my field experience I talked with a family support specialist who has a large family population of teen mothers.

     Some insights that I gained from this experience is, many of these mothers have no emotional, physical, or financial support from the fathers of their children. Which is the basis for my one of my subtopics in my research, which is the emotional stress that these mothers feel, while trying to raise a child or children on their own. Due to this fact, she has seen many cases of reported child abuse/neglect. Also, I was told that many of these mothers are forced to chose school or work, in which many chose work. Unfortunately, this decision leads them to dead end jobs, and without a proper education, their prospects for a bright future are dim.

     Another insight that I gained from speaking with the family support specialist is, many of these girls have to work in order to receive benefits from the government. My question is, when will these girls be given a second chance to an education?

                                           The Journey continues.......