I have chosen to study the National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org/. In exploring the website and its information, I have found several key resources that are relevant to my current professional development including weekly posting related to Black History facts that can be used for personal knowledge to share with collogues as well as fun activities and icebreakers for younger children. I also found that the website lists information pertaining to NBCDI’s quarterly publication Child Health Talk which includes a feature entitled “Between the Covers,” which provides readers with a wide range of age appropriate, multi-cultural books that celebrate diversity and the African-American experience. This section of the quarterly publication is great information that can be used to encourage young children to read and to also help parents and family member with choosing books that are developmentally appropriate.
The website promotes the program Promoting Positive Nutrition Project, which is a health and nutrition education initiative supported by the Walmart Foundation, the project is designed to encourage healthy nutrition practices specifically among Black families with young children. In reading this description I got to thinking about my own family and even my childhood. Growing up as a young child in the South, I NEVER was educated on the importance of proper nutrition. As I think about my family now and my younger cousins, they too are not as informed about the value of proper nutrition. This brings me to the thoughts of what is lacking in the African American (Black) community as it relates to educating families and having families utilize and practice what is being taught regarding proper nutrition.
On this website the organization mentions ways in which their actions are aiding to their mission. The organization has worked successfully to create public policy and influence legislation that directly affects the lives of African American children by testifying before Congress on every significant child care bill, worked to gain public support to provide access to universal early care and education which has become a priority for governors in more than half of the states and has promoted publicly supported quality child care programs for mothers who were entering the work force in increased numbers, resulting in the enactment and special allocation of funds by a substantial number of states for child care. In addition the website states their goals for implementing and expanding a community based nationwide intervention/prevention program entitled Entering the College Zone from five to twenty five cities to get more disadvantage middle school students on the college track. Through these actions it is clear that politicians seem to be the main population the organization looks to for support and advocacy in the early childhood field. It is also interesting that the organization understands the importance of helping the entire family to succeed.
Through exploring the website, I was able to learn more about the different issues and trends in the early childhood field that directly affect African American (Black) children and the ways in which this particular organization is working to enhance to overall quality of life for this population of children and their families. I see a trend regarding nutrition education as well as literacy education for not only the children but their families.
Nutrition was never something I was educated about either. It seems it is becoming an increasingly popular subject for early childhood, especially with the issue of childhood obesity. I think with nutrition education should also be fitness education too, though, because I think the obesity issue has more to do with children being sedentary than having unhealthy diets. Good Post!
ReplyDeleteI think the website you selected is very useful to the African American community because it caters to the specific group of individual. Being able to identify culturally to children is very important. I also like the nutrition education because Mississippi leads the nation in obesity. Sounds like this website provides information to help reduces these odds. Great Information.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. I too checked out the National Black Child website. As a matter of fact, they are hosting their annual conference here in Nashville, TN this month. I think that addressing proper nutrition and getting children on track to college are both great initiatives. I firmly believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Also, if we can get our parents to model eating healthy foods for our children, our children will be healthier. And by including more fiber in the place of the white starches, our children won't be hungry for junk food all the time.
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