Communities of Practice For The Early Childhood Education Field

Texas Department of Family Protective Services

A state organization that appeals to me is the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (TDFPS) I have worked in the past with a branch which falls under the same umbrella which is Child Protective (CPS) on a volunteer basis and I have found the work to be very tiring and demanding but yet, very satisfying and a passionate cause.  Unlike CPS whose only focus are children, TDFS focuses on the whole family, including the elderly; and this is a population I have great respect for. Some opportunities currently available are caseworkers, social workers, investigators, and substance abuse counselors. The skills and experience necessary to fulfill these roles include ;

 

1. Knowledge of child development.
2. Knowledge of family dynamics.
3. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
4. Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
5. Ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
6. Ability to work with other professionals in the community.*

 

Texas Education Agency

Another place that attracts my attention is The Texas Education Agency (TEA). I think it would be interesting to belong to this community of practice because they are the ones who set forth the educational laws and standards in my state. Some jobs available in the TEA include Directors, Investigators, and Programmers. While these jobs are more demanding and they require more skills, they are also in the six figure annual salary. Some requirements to be met are;

 

1. Organize and direct program activities
2. Establish program goals and objectives that support agency strategic plans and legislative mandates;
3. Educator preparation programs, 
4. Facilitate and manage stakeholder meetings with diverse participants in order to make recommendations based on stakeholder input/feedback and policy needs.*

 

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas

 

I find myself drawn to this agency because I have always been an advocate for children. I think I started being one since I was in the playground at kindergarten and always wanted to defend the children’s rights; even if it meant getting in trouble sometimes. Children’s Advocacy Centers™ of Texas, Inc. (CACTX) is the statewide membership association in charge of representing all local children’s advocacy centers in the state. The jobs listed include family support counselor, center coordinator, and lead therapist. Some requirements include;

 

1.   Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s preferred) in social work, psychology, or related field.

2.  Working knowledge of child abuse dynamics

3.  Good organizational, communication and networking skills

4.   Successful completion of a background check, including criminal/CPS clearances*

 

 

*References

 

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Retrieved January 14, 2014 from

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/

 

Texas Education Agency. Retrieved  January 14, 2014 from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/

 

Children’s Advocacy Center’s of Texas. Retrieved Jan 14, 2014 from

http://www.cactx.org/