The first organization that I came across is called Voices for Georgia's Children. This organization was established in 2003 and is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization. Its vision is to ensure children in Georgia are safe, healthy, educated, employable, and connected to their family and community. There mission is to be a powerful, unifying voice for a public agenda that ensures the well-being of all Georgia's children (Voices for Georgia's Children, 2003). In order for them to help change the way that children grow up and ensure they have a quality life, this organization provides research-based information, measures, collective voice and proposed legislation to help guide decision makers in the right direction. They support policies that focus on the well-being of children and provide children with an adequate education. Their objective is to ensure Georgia's children grow up to be healthy educated and productive citizens.
I chose this organization because of the work they do in the community and with the local government. They pay attention to how polices and other legislation effect the children in the area and use their voices to stand up for the needs of the children. The organization focuses on early childhood, child health and transitioning youth to foster change in five measures of child well being, which are; safety, health, education, connection to family and community, and employability. I have not been able to find employment with this organization by I will continue my search.
The second organization that I found is the Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC). It is an organization that is affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and works towards the education and development of Georgia's young children birth-8. Their vision is to provide children with learning opportunities that will ensure they have a healthy development and are supported by early childhood educators who have the education, financial support and the recognition of their community. GAYC's mission is to increase public awareness of the importance of early childhood education and to improve the quality of programs for young children through learning opportunities for early childhood educators. What I liked about this programs is the fact that they understand the important role educators play and want to provided them with an education that will not only benefit them but they children they encounter. I did not find employment with this organization but I noticed that they had plenty of opportunities for volunteering. I have contacted the Executive Director and I am still waiting for a response.
The last organization that I found in my state is the Georgia Head Start Association. This organization is one that I have heard about all throughout my career. I have heard great things about this group and the work they do. GHSA is a non-profit organization that provides education, leadership and advocacy with efforts in delivering high quality comprehensive services to children and their families. They server over 25,000 low-income preschool children birth through five-years old and their families throughout the state of Georgia. This organization appealed to me because of the work they do in low-income families. They work with areas and children who are sometimes overlooked and they provide them with quality services that meet their needs. This organization has different job positions but none are available at this time.
References
Voice's for Georgia Children http://georgiavoices.org/Georgia Association on Young Children http://gayconline.org/
Georgia Head Start Association http://www.georgiaheadstart.org/
