PROFILE OF A VOLUNTEER

For the purpose of this blog assignment I chose to highlight Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Delaware. The responsibilities of a CASA include quality and independent representation and advocacy for all abused and neglected children involved in Family Court proceedings. CASA of Delaware (1) provide advocacy and factual information to the court regarding abused, neglected, and dependant children (2) insure legal representation of the child’s best interest in all judicial proceedings (3) monitor cases involving abused, neglected, and dependant children until the terms of a court order have been fulfilled and/or a safe and permanent home has been achieved for the children.

CASA of Delaware positively impacts the lives of children by working to ensure that the best interest of each child served is acknowledged, respected, and maintained within judicial proceedings. Research have shown that once a CASA volunteer is assigned to a abused or neglected child, the likelihood of that child receiving essential services including health care, education, and therapy increases significantly. The volunteer of a CASA extend beyond serving the best interest of abused and neglected children within judicial proceedings to fostering the overall well-being of the child and family.

A vital “take-away” message relative to the work of CASA:

Serving the best interest of children is a service to the best interest of our future generations.

Reference:

http://www.courts.delaware.gov/Family/CASA/faqs.stm

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET CONNECTED

I have past and present experience with social media, with frequent use of Facebook, YouTube, Instant Gram, and my personal blog. On average I utilize these selected forms of social media three to fours times a week and often more than once in a 24 hour period. I typically utilize Facebook and Instant Gram to provide friends and family with photos and descriptive updates of my life in addition to inspirational quotes. These forms of social media allow remain connected to friends and family. I frequently utilize YouTube when researching “how to” topics such as cooking, party decorating, and arts and crafts. You Tube is excellent in providing visual instruction/information on the topic for which you are researching. My personal blogs is one which I have recently become familiar as a result of my enrollment into the Early Childhood Studies program at Walden University. As a requirement of my first course within the Early Childhood Studies program I was instructed to create a personal blogs and required complete weekly posts discussing information relevant to the topic of the week specific to the course for which I was enrolled.

The social media tools that I feel lead themselves to effective advocacy are Facebook, YouTube, and personal blogs. These tools are most effective as they enable advocates to effectively communicate their advocacy objective through the creation of interest groups, publication of public service announcements, and descriptive timelines of advocacy efforts. These specific social media tools enable advocates to reach a significant numbers of individuals within a relativity short period of time.

I would use Fcaebook, YouTube, and my personal blogs to educate and inspire others in my advocacy work by (1) gathering the support of individuals who share an interest in my advocacy objective (2) educating my supporters regarding my advocacy objective and projected advocacy efforts (3) encouraging my supporters to share the advocacy objective with their family, friends, and colleagues in an effort to increase its support and strength. I would execute these essential steps by creating an interest group on Facebook, publishing a PSA on YouTube, and providing weely posts of the progress of the advocacy objective on my personal blog.

Does anyone have additional suggestions of ways in which I can utilize social media to gather supporters for my advocacy objective?

ADVOCACY MESSAGES

Inspiring Advertising Campaigns:

“Munch & Move”- An NSW health initiative which supports healthy development of children ages birth through age five. The campaign promotes physical activity, healthy eating, and reduced small screen time in addition to offering training and resources to educators working in NSW early childhood education and care services

(http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au).

“Eat Right, Be Bright”- A grass root effort developed by middle school teachers within the Los Angles Unified School District which incorporates innovative education components that align with nationally established initiatives. These components are designed to improve awareness, healthy eating, and augment classroom opportunities with the introduction of environment-based studies (http://www.foxcarolina.com).

Analysis of Advertising Messages:

I believe these advertising messages are effective in creating action as they exhibit simplicity in its presentation. The most effective advertising messages are those that are short, sweet, and straight to the point. Simplicity in the deliverance of an advertising campaign enables individuals of varies ages and intellectual capacities to understand its general statement and intended initiatives. Effective advocacy and communication of your advocacy efforts requires deliverance of simple and direct advertising messages.

MY OWN CAPACITY

Which issues impacting young children and their families and/or the field of early childhood fuel your passion?

            Poverty, health, nutrition, and quality education are four issues impacting children and their families which fuel my passion. These issues are becoming increasingly prominent within the United States and proving to have significant effects on children’s development and the overall well being of families. Research shows that children living in poverty typically have poor health and nutrition and limited access to quality education. With limited resources and/or early intervention, children living in poverty and directly experiencing its detrimental effects are destined for futures in which the cycle of poverty continues.

What special skills do you have that will contribute to your advocacy efforts? How will you incorporate these skills into your work?

            I believe my communication skills will directly contribute to my advocacy efforts. Effective communication skills are essential for advocacy work. It’s essential for one to have the ability to effectively communicate their issues for which they are most passionate including the effects of the issues on children and families, and their proposed solutions to rectify the issues. Without effective communication one’s advocacy efforts may be at risk for failure. I will incorporate my communicating skills during meetings, presentations, and conferences with specific individuals with whom I wish to gain support. My communication skills would be used to effectively present my advocacy issue to key individuals such as parents, community members, advocacy organizations, early childhood professionals, pediatricians, and local and state legislators. In presenting my advocacy issue to these selected individuals, my communication skills will also be utilized to effectively communicate the effects of the advocacy issue on children and families, my proposed solutions to rectify the issue, in addition to providing an open forum allowing individuals to provide their individuals perspectives on effective solutions.

In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be an effective advocate?

            I anticipate personal growth in my awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the primary issues currently effecting children and families in the United States. To become an effective advocate is important for me to remain abreast of current issues effecting children and families as these issues are continuously growing and changing. As an advocate I want to ensure that I set fourth my most effective advocacy efforts in an attempt to foster healthy growth and development for children and families.