Personal Advocacy Reflection

I thought long and hard about who had impacted my life or of someone else life with support, resources, and information. And, then I remembered a card and gift I received from a parent at Christmas where she thanked me for helping her family and her pursuit of a career. The Gaines twin girls are in the toddler one’s class and they have free childcare instead of paying $190.00 a week.

The mother came into the center with a smile inquiring about child care, but after finding out the fee of $380.00 a week she admitted she could not afford it.  She is a student on campus, and I had recently heard about a grant that would help students with child care, but it was not active. I told her about it and put her on my waiting list for two of my grant funded programs. I invited her to stop by anytime or call to check on the status of the new grant. Well, she did that continuously and would always ask if it was alright her stopping by so much. I assured her it was, I told her about United Way how they had helped certain students in college by paying tuition for a semester, and about the Children and Parent Services (CAPS). She came by to tell me she did not qualify for caps and she had not heard anything back from United Way. I asked her had she approached her advisor, and I told her to make an appointment to see Dr. Jeffers who had also helped a student through United Way for a semester. This went on for some months, and I had spoken to the FSS, and the assistant director who also was over the Quality Rated Subsidy Grant. Early Head Start and Quality Rated were both full and they did not seem concerned. I talked to the Director about her, and how she was doing all she could, and we needed to find a way to help her. My director met the young lady and I continued to bring her to mind until finally, we had open space for two in the grant. The mother was ecstatic and told me how much she appreciated my help.

I am tenacious, it took months before I was able to help her. But I stayed positive and I told her we would find a way. Being an advocate, we must be in for the long run, because we might never see the change we are aspiring towards. Seeking out many sources is listed as a skill of an advocate because sometimes all you hear is “no”. When I was helping her through all those months, I did not think of myself as an advocate, but it was to help someone who could not help. I have helped parents before in ways when they could not, and I think that is what advocates do. Writing this week’s entry has opened my eyes to my need to help children and their families. I think this is a natural response that all of us in this field have when children are involved. According to Kieff (2009), we are to:” Be persistent. Systemic change takes time” (p.68).