National and Federal Level ECE Communities

On a national level, there are a number of organizations that are interested in supporting the social-emotional development of young children. The following are three in particular that appeal to my interests and passions in the field.

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
This national group based out of Vanderbilt University has state partners in a number of states, however, Georgia is not yet one of them. Seems like room for growth! CSEFEL is specifically interested in supporting the social-emotional development of children birth to 5 years. The Pyramid Model is based in evidence-based practices targeted at increasing social competence and addressing challenging or at-risk behaviors. The organization offers a wealth of free resources and information for educators, caregivers,  and parents. At this time the organization does not have any openings listed (through Vanderbilt University Human Resources), however being a trainer or coach for this organization would be fascinating, as it would allow direct influence on children and families, supporting the community by supporting the children within it.


The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) “takes the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities and creates FREE products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day”. TACSEI bases it’s work on the CSEFEL Pyramid Model as well, and is linked with the organization. The primary functions of TACSEI are research synthesis and dissemination; collaborative partnerships; consulting; providing technical assistance with model delivery; product creation; and distance or e-learning opportunities. Again, at this time there appear to be no job listings for this group, however, they are sponsoring an upcoming conference, the 15th Annual National Institute on Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behavior. Volunteering to a help at this conference would be an ideal way to learn more about the organization, meet important players within the organization, and develop partnerships with both this organization and others that they collaborate with.

Finally, Ashoka is an international organization dedicated to supporting young changemakers who are interested in creating positive change for society. One area of focus for the group is Every Child Practicing Empathy. According to the organization’s website, “Effective collaboration in this [global] environment is only possible with empathy: the ability to understand and respond to the feelings of others. In a changemaker world, empathy is as fundamental as reading and math. This creates a new social imperative to ensure that every child fully develops their own innate capacity for empathy”. Ashoka sponsors Changemaker Schools in which “students are learning the essential skills of empathy, creativity, thoughtfulness, leadership, and teamwork so that they can thrive in the modern world and find solutions to our most complex problems”. In addition, Ashoka sponsors the Start Empathy Initiative which develops and disseminates research and resources related to fostering empathy and kindness in young children.

These organizations represent just a few of the groups who are dedicated to creating a kinder world by supporting the social-emotional development of young children.

References:

Ashoka. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ashoka.org/en

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu/