Sharing Web Resources

Education professionals should always have access to resources that can assist them in keeping up with issues and trends.  These resources can be access in several ways but in this posting my focus is on web resources.  I have chosen a domestic (US) organization that I believe will help me to stay connected with the organization’s goals, news, issues and involvement in trends. 

 

The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is an organization that is celebrating 40 years of service focused on children and families.  This organization was birthed during a time period that social changes were a political and social program in the United States.  The institute was developed by the Black Women’s Community Development Foundation to address concerns of unsatisfactory conditions that families faced as they attempted to raise healthy families.

 

The mission of NBCDI is –“To improve and advance the lives of black children and their families through education and advocacy.”   (NBCDI, 2013).  Their focus expands beyond early childhood education to include child welfare, and education of all age childhood age groups.

One of the things about the NBCDI is the fact that they advocate for changes in public policy and how it affects the education of Black Children.   The Institute testified before congress to assist in several acts to be passed.  The following is a list of acts they have successfully advocated for:

v  Comprehensive Child Development Act of 1970,

v  Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996,

v  School Construction Act of 1999

v  Consequences for Juvenile Offenders Act of 1999

           The Institute also support universal early care, offers leadership to the National Institute of Health (NIH), and education and has built community partnerships with the National Education Association (NEA), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Association for the Education of Young People (NAEYC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), United Parcel Services (UPS), Proctor and Gamble(P&G), State Farm Insurance Companies and other governmental programs.

The NBCDI operates the following programs to help promote a national awareness that benefits all children of color during the Early Childhood years:

            Love to Read-a literacy program focused on improvement of literacy skills

The Parent Empowerment Program-helps parents become culturally competent and instructs on parenting skills.

African American Parents Project-[program partnered with the National Institute of Health that provides parents with materials, resources, and activities to help their children.  Materials are distributed through churches, schools and other programs.

Spark: Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids-a national initiative that is partnered with W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support communities with ensure school readiness.

Information retrieved from www.nbcdi.org