Getting to Know International Contacts

In the Harvard website they focused a lot on ensuring the health of our children. The goals of the organization is to invest in the root of the problem that is causing many issues within the early childhood field with children and their families. What I loved about the information is that they collaborate with others within and outside of cultures that ensure that they are providing the best services that will support the children and also target their initiative goal.

Here is the outline of their plan of attack for help and support:

Guided by these strategic objectives, the Global Children’s Initiative has begun to build a portfolio of activities in three domains:

• early childhood development;
• child mental health; and
  
• children in crisis and conflict situations.

"Each of these domains is being guided by a designated faculty working group that will facilitate continuing cross-disciplinary collaboration; design and implement new projects; and engage additional faculty, students, and collaborators beyond the Harvard community. (Global Children’s Initiative)"

The program that I enjoyed reading about was "applying science in Brazil." I understand that we have a lot of problems that occur right here in the United States, but I think it is a plus that their are programs that branch out to assist. What occurs in other cultures might actually be beneficial to the individuals we have here. The whole idea of collaborating is what education is all about. We have to learn how to work together in an effort to do what we were called to do, and that is provide a service for the children and families that will provide them with a foundation that covers all areas; education, mental, physical, social and emotional, and health.

Another program that caught my eye within the website is: 

New Scientific Knowledge Can Inform Innovative Global Strategies

In order to make something work we have understand the changes that are occurring and the language that is being spoken. The article states how we are failing to make a connection with the policies and procedures that have to be in place. Ideas are great, but research need to understand that they have to look at the whole picture and not the part that they are interested in. "International discussions of child-related policies and practices often fail to make the vital connection between child survival, one of the developing world’s most pressing issues, and child development, an equally important prerequisite for productive and harmonious societies. (Global Children's Initiative)"

References:

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/applying_the_science_of_early_childhood_in_brazi/

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/