As I was looking through the website I came across a section about poverty under the About Child Care tab. There were many interesting facts and resources, but one resource that peaked my interest was about the role that home visiting plays in ending poverty. The idea is that home visitors go into homes to work with parent and provide resources that support children's early years. This helps the children get a better start in hopes that they will continue that momentum and be successful in school and eventually life in general. I have done home visits as an Education Specialist with Head Start, and I am familiar with the Office of Home Visiting in Utah, but I have never had the importance of this program explained to me in terms of being a specific tool to actually break the cycle of poverty.
Another topic that caught my eye was a news report under the News tab about two sisters, child care providers from the Middle East, who were arrested for child abuse because they swaddled infants too tightly. This made me think about our assignment this week regarding changing demographics and diversity. According to an article about the history of swaddling it is a common practice in many countries, and it is done for a variety of reasons: transportation, calming, warmth, bone growth, and safety. I even found a reference to an article written in 1990 about millions of infants in Beijing China being tied up in bags of sand, with only their heads peeping out, and left completely alone for most of each day. This is done so they will be safe while their parents are working in the fields. It is not until a child is completely mobile (12-18 months) that they are taken out of the bags and , at that point, they are required to help in the field. It makes me wonder if maybe these sisters were just doing what they considered to be best practices...?
Sources:
- http://www.naccrra.org/about-us/our-vision-and-mission
- http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_23100669/day-care-owners-charged-excessive-swaddling
- Smith, L. (2011, January 31). Swaddling: A historical, cultural, and lactational perspective. [Webinar Presentation]. Retrieved from http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/documents
I can understand how home visits can be beneficial. In the school system I work in, teachers are discouraged from making home visits. There is a protocol in place and only certain representives are able to visit homes.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great reference. I do home visits for my job and it is very stressful entering houses where we do not know who lives there and what the conditions of the inside are like. I will be adding this resource to my list. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting topics and stories! This organization appears to have a variety of helpful information. I used to do home visits in my previous career field and I do believe it can be very beneficial. Sometimes I would come across parents who were not happy I was there but after continually going to the home visits they began to realize I was there to help and became welcoming.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading you post.I work directly with 2 early head-start programs in Memphis Tennessee, I was informed by the director of operations that the home visit is very beneficial to the families of these children.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteI never thought that home visits could help to end poverty. thanks for sharing
Carolyn, NACCRRA is a great resource for childcare and have helped many providers nation wide because it acts as a resource and referral agency with a variety of information.
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ReplyDeleteRachel Hendrix -Responding to Carolyn
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I think the NACCRRA is a good website for finding out what is available as far as with childcare and referral agencies. In our society now days children are out of their parents care 30-35 hours a week and so it is very important that they get the right help that they need. Its very sad to know the facts that you brought up about the Middle East and China. I can not believe that you babies are placed in bags like that that is so sad.
Good post