Every Voice Matters The Importance of Advocacy

Authors: Amber J Royea Dolores J Appl

Publish Date: 2009/07/29

Volume: 37, Issue: 2, Pages: 89-91

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Abstract

Over the years parents professionals and politicians have come together to advocate on behalf of children’s rights Advocacy can occur individually collectively or a combination of both Although some advocacy efforts are more successful than others it is the process of the advocacy and voices behind it that matter most In this guest editorial the history of two major advocacy organizations and ideas for becoming an advocate are discussedHow would you react if you overheard colleagues and administrators talking about “those special ed kids” or the “autistic child” or the “handicapped parent” who cannot access his child’s classroom The common thread among these examples is the focus on what is wrong with each person as opposed to who the individual is as a person When you hear these types of politically incorrect statements what do you do Perhaps you are unaware that such statements are inappropriate Perhaps you are aware but choose to ignore them Or you might act by modeling or suggesting the use of peoplefirst language which means referring to the person before using other descriptors Moris 2003 What if you read an article in the newspaper or hear a newsperson use such language Would you send an email or letter If you take action you are advocating for individuals who happen to have disabilities but also have many abilities They are people first and foremost their disabilities do not define themEarly childhood professionals frequently encounter issues that pertain to young children and families Unlike saying or doing nothing when faced with inequities advocates are risk takers who challenge the status quo A person who advocates is substantially different from one who keeps silent and travels “the path of least resistance” Following a path of least resistance can result in a professional who is “immobilized throughout a career stagnates and loses rather than gains competence” Jalongo 2002 p 65 In this editorial we define advocacy discuss why it is a professional responsibility provide some history behind two wellknown advocacy groups and describe basic advocacy skillsAdvocacy is telling or demonstrating something you know to someone you know in order to improve the quality of life for others Mitchell and Philibert 2002 Zeitler 2007 Child advocacy is any individual or cooperative action that strives to enrich the lives of children including challenging injustices and promoting overall welfare Pithouse and Crowley 2007 In some instances professionals may feel constrained in their advocacy efforts by their employer However advocacy is a professional responsibility Mitchell and Philibert 2002 and “if you do not take action who will” LaRocco and Bruns 2005 p 12Both the Division of Early Childhood DEC of the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association for the Education of Young Children NAEYC provide codes of ethics with policies related to advocacy DEC’s code states that members should be committed to serve as advocates “for children with special needs and their families and for the professionals who serve them in our communities working with those who make the policy and programmatic decisions that enhance or depreciate the quality of their lives” Sandall et al 2005 p 296 NAEYC includes a supplemental document in their code of ethics which is titled “Statement of Commitment” and has an item pertaining to advocacy It states that each member should “serve as an advocate for children their families and their teachers in community and society” NAEYC 2005 Statement of Commitment section item 5 Therefore advocacy is an essential responsibility of professionals working with young children and familiesOver the years parents professionals and politicians have come together to advocate on behalf of children’s rights They have advocated both individually and collectively in order to make changes they want to see in the world The use of peoplefirst language is one example Other examples include efforts to ensure adequate health care coverage for children and families proper educational services for children with and without disabilities protection of children’s safety and wellbeing and funding to maintain high quality services and programs Advocacy also pertains to efforts in support of sufficient funding and coverage for teachers interventionists and other professionals who serve children and their families Children’s Defense Fund 2009 LaRocco and Bruns 2005 Zeitler 2007 Taking action as an individual person or as part of a group can have monumental effects in the lives of children families and the professionals serving them Mitchell and Philibert 2002 There are organizations devoted to advocacy that can assist you in your efforts Two highly influential groups in the history of child and family advocacy include the Children’s Defense Fund Children’s Defense Fund 2009 and the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York McDonald 1995The Children’s Defense Fund CDF is a child advocacy organization founded by Marian Wright Edelman in 1973 out of Washington DC Their “mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start a Head Start a Fair Start a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities” CDF 2009 Since its establishment in 1973 the Children’s Defense Fund has been a pioneer in child advocacy by teaming with families community members politicians and professionals nationwide Accomplishments to which its members and supporters have contributed include separating children from adults in the jail system and pushing for Medicaid expenses to cover children and pregnant women in poverty They have also helped to pass important legislation such as the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act PL 94142 which was the predecessor of the current Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA Additionally in 1994 and 1995 the CDF helped defeat the Republican Party’s “Contract with America” proposals that would have lead to significant cuts in income health foster care and nutrition programs for American children CDF 2009The Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York CCC a nonprofit agency still in existence today was also an early pioneer in child advocacy Formed in 1944 and deeply rooted in the civil rights movement the CCC’s mission is to serve as a voice for children by ensuring that they have their basic needs met and have access to quality educational programs Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York Inc 2006 CCC strives to keep children safe through their efforts to adapt social and political policies CCC 2006 McDonald 1995 Its members include people from many different facets of life in New York City including parents youth policymakers professionals journalists and other concerned citizens from all five boroughs The diversity and comprehensiveness of its membership help ensure that its efforts resonate throughout the city CCC 2006 Since its establishment CCC has conducted an extensive amount of qualitative research on child wellbeing facilitated community education programs provided community members with newsletters and ealerts and consistently come together to reach out to policymakers and officials in order to pass budgets legislations and policies that best serve the children and families of New York City CCC 2006 McDonald 1995

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