80 MD2 Assignment 4

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Module 2 Assignment 4: Blog: Sharing Your Thoughts

An important part of your professional development is collaboration with your colleagues and developing thriving communities of practice in which people and resources support and inspire, inform and challenge, and bring unique talents and perspectives that add to your own.

Over the past 3 weeks, course Discussions have provided you with an opportunity to explore healthy prenatal development, the strengths-based perspective, and brain development. Each of these topics can be cast as pressing advocacy issues within the field, where powerful messages can impact intended audiences and ripple out, supporting child and family development in new and exciting ways.

Review the Learning Resources on how to create an effective advocacy message.

Assignment Task Instructions

By Day 3 of Week 5

Post to your blog:

Select one of the three Discussion posts you developed during this module. (Discussion selected below)

Create an advocacy message designed to inform and educate other early childhood educators about the importance of the issue. Your blog post should include the following:

· A brief, research-based overview of the issue you selected (healthy prenatal development, adopting a strengths-based perspective, optimizing brain development)

· A related advocacy message that you feel is essential for early childhood professionals and supportive of positive social change

· Why this topic/message is of particular importance to you

· Questions or calls for support from your colleagues

Discussion 1: Healthy Prenatal Development

An analysis of the scenario highlighted in the Discussion introduction that provokes a research-based discussion of the following:

· What you believe are the most critical factors related to healthy prenatal development identified within the scenario, including a research-based rationale for why you identified these factors

· An explanation of how you would support both the mother in the scenario as well as work with her to help her develop a healthy context for her developing fetus based on program and community resources

· Identification of how the information you targeted as critical within the scenario can be meaningfully extended to pregnant mothers beyond the presented scenario

· How the information presented within the scenario could be most effectively utilized within the early childhood field as well as other fields that directly support young children and their families

Discussion 1: Healthy Prenatal Development (Response)

For healthy Prenatal development, there is a need to eliminate all the potential risks that may affect the unborn child. Most mothers try to improve their nutrition and eliminate high-risk behaviors during pregnancy (Radin et al., 2018). For instance, Maria is four months pregnant, and she is trying to get rid of the risks for the unborn child. The most important factors to healthy Prenatal Development are a healthy diet, visiting the clinic regularly, quit smoking, and giving the baby proper stimuli. The baby must endure appropriate stimuli to enhance brain development (Music, 2016). Therefore, all the factors should be considered for healthy prenatal development.

I can help the mother in the case by ensuring that she gets access to the necessary healthcare needs. I can offer her the required information to reach for state help regarding food stamps which can help feed her family. I can also organize so she can get childcare support for her two-year-old for when she visits the doctor or when she is at work at a cheaper cost. I can also organize meetings for her to interact with other families in the program (McLeish & Redshaw, 2017). It will help her get the emotional support she requires.

The information can be extended to other pregnant mothers by formulating pamphlets that can be spread to educate them. The pamphlets will contain all the necessary information regarding healthcare during and after pregnancy (Radin et al., 2018). It will also inform mothers of the essential factors to develop a healthy baby. Peer support from other families is also necessary to encourage pregnant women to stay emotionally fit.

The information from the scenario can be utilized within the early childhood field and other fields by demonstrating a listening need when the mothers confide in the field. Mothers with similar situations do not know the way forward when faced with difficulties. The necessary resources can be developed to help the mothers and children. It can be used to educate fathers on the impact they create when they leave their pregnant partners. Mothers can be educated through peer support to be emotionally active with their children to help with their mental development (McLeish & Redshaw, 2017). It will help their children to get the necessary needs through their early development.

References

McLeish, J., & Redshaw, M. (2017). Mothers’ accounts of the impact on emotional wellbeing of organized peer support in pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 17(1), 1-14.

Music, G. (2016). Nurturing natures: Attachment and children's emotional, sociocultural and brain development. Psychology Press.

Radin, J. M., Steinhubl, S. R., Su, A. I., Bhargava, H., Greenberg, B., Bot, B. M., ... & Topol, E. J. (2018). The healthy pregnancy research program: transforming pregnancy research through a ResearchKit app. NPJ digital medicine, 1(1), 1-7.

100 Word Responses to Colleagues:

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ postings in one or both of the following ways:

· Suggest an additional resource or potential collaboration that might strengthen supports for pregnant mothers.

· Share a personal/professional experience that highlights supports related to prenatal development and mothers who are pregnant.

•A personal/professional experience that highlights supports related to prenatal development and mothers who are pregnant.

Depression is a major issue in young mothers in these times. I can remember when I first found out I was pregnant I thought my world had ended. I had so much going, school and working 2 jobs at the time getting ready to work on my last year at Mississippi Delta Community College. However, I did fall into a state of depression after I had my son. I had just lost my job and then had to depend on my parents for assistance at the time. I joined a support groups for Teenage mothers that my church developed. This group was called "SHS" - Sisters Helping Sisters. This program helped me through the tough times of being a new mom but, a mom who did not give up. During that same year I had graduated with my associate degree in Early Childhood Education and Started working in my field as a teacher being an After-School Tutor at the church. So, I must say Good things come to those who WAIT.

Suggest an additional resource or potential collaboration that might strengthen supports for pregnant mothers.

Government Assisted Programs:

1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)- This is a federal funded assistant program to assist with children and families who are unable to provide care or basic needs. (n.d.) The program is also built to aid pregnant mothers or single mothers. TANF funds are given by the state, while helping you find a job to better assist and support yourself and children (n.d.)

2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)- This is a federal funded program to assist needed families to with their basic needs during hard times. Each household have eligibility requirements to follow to receive asstistance (n.d.)

Reference:

https://www.usa.gov/benefits. (n.d.).

Terri Edwards (INSTRUCTOR Response)

Resources are Available for Teachers to Share

Hi Angel, thank you for your reflections here! I believe the most critical factors related to healthy prenatal development identified in the scenario is Anya Marie overall health of her baby and hers as well. Since this is Anya Marie’s second pregnancy she may feel as though she knows what to expect. However, no pregnancy is the same. Right now, Anya Marie would not know if something is concerning, worth looking into, if the baby healthy, if she healthy, due to not going to the see the doctor yet. This is not to mention she is 4 months pregnant. Anya has stopped smoking and drinking, trying to cut down on working long 12-hour shifts, and stay stress-free all while the father has left and bills are still due. If you consider all of this as a pregnant person, it would be a bit overwhelming probably for anybody. Even though Anya Marie plans on seeing a doctor soon it is good that she is taking prenatal for her and the baby and taking the caution steps to stay on a healthy diet. The biological mother’s emotional health and capacity to process emotions has a profound effect on the developing fetus, including via the transmission of stress hormones and more noxious substances across the placenta (Music, 2017). You mention developing information and resources; much of these have already been created and you just need to obtain it and share it. What specific resources are available in your area of Mississippi?

Music, G. (2017). Nurturing Natures: Attachment and children’s emotional, sociocultural, and brain development (2nd ed.). Psychology Press.

Angel Winslow (Response to Instructor)

RE: Resources are Available for Teachers to Share

COLLAPSE

In my area of MS we have several government assisted programs to help here with Mothers and needed families. Some assistance may be financially, nutritional, and or housing assistance. These programs here in MS are to assist to help families in getting back on their feet. Here are some listed :

1. TANF- This is a financial assistance program to help provide financial services for basic needs such as clothes, food, shelter, and other specific needs. (n.d.)

2. SNAP- This is a nutritional program that offers services to purchase food for needed low- income families. This is also known as the Food Stamp Program.(n.d.)

3. SECTION-8: This is a housing assistance program for low income families. It offers financial vouchers to individuals who are unable to properly afford safe and sanitary housing for themselves and or family. (n.d.)

Reference:

https://www.usa gov/benefits. (n.d.).