Using Social Media to Get Connected

This day in age it is rare to find someone that has not experienced social media.  The most common is Facebook and I personally maintain relationships from the past as far back as high school. It is an outlet to converse and share stories with others.  Social media can also effect relationships in a negative way.  Society see beauty as the media portrays beauty making it difficult for women to truly understand that they are an individual and beautiful in their own unique way.  Leading to the main cause of eating disorders. 

Media can provide an organization the outlet to share their vision and offer a resource to others that support their cause.  Posting pictures and stories provide the most common way for advocacy organizations to make others aware.  Offering information that may not be common knowledge can educated the public to the experiences children may deal with on a daily basis. Bringing awareness to a cause that otherwise would be overlooked makes the media a very resourceful option.

Advocacy Messages

Inspiring Advertising Campaign Messages

1. Prevent Child Abuse (America PCA America)

Leading the way in building awareness, providing education and inspiring hope to everyone involved in the effort to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children. 

http://www.preventchildabuse.org/about_us/index.shtml

2. Invisible Children Kids at Risk Action (KARA) 

Goal is to advocate for the welfare of at-risk children and youth through the identification and promotion of people, programs, and policies that work. 

http://www.invisiblechildren.org/home/

3.  Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Mission is to work together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every abused or neglected child can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive.  

http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5453887/k.7340/Organizational_Profile.htm

My Own Capacity

• The issues that fuel my passion is children that suffer from neglect and abuse not being protected from their own parents.  Teachers see children everyday that are quieter than usual or move away when an adult approaches them those are signs that they are afraid of something.  Having a counselor or professional visit with these kids could shed light on what is going on at home.  Providing families with educational opportunities and information on how to deal with their aggression in other ways than on their children is a way to begin protecting the kids. The skills I process that can help is these situations is the willingness and ability ti listen and looking at the problem with open eyes so that an objective approach can take in correcting the way the children are treated.  I feel I am welcoming to those that are hurting and will hold a child as long as needed to help them feel safe again.  Approaching an issue open minded can help all parties involved giving those involved to give their sides and in the end not feel like there are forever condemned for their actions as long as they are willing to admit they are wrong and will work to correct how they treat their children.
  
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My Role as an Advocate

• Working in the healthcare field allows me to help patients from many different demographics and income levels.  While working in the lab I saw children from the local children's hospital that helps those with behavioral issues, have attempted suicide, are dealing with Attention Deficit Disorder, and other issues that are difficult for parents to handle alone.  These children that come into the lab have weekly blood work because of the medications they are taking to help with their issues.  I have talked to a few of them and their stories are heartbreaking.  One child told me that she really wasn't trying to bad a child but her parents gave up on her.  Listening to her made me think that these kids need someone that will help them when their parents feel they cannot.  Standing up and making sure they are treated the way they deserve.  They did not ask to have behaviorial issues and I believe there are times that the environment a child grow is up in can effect how severe the issue gets.  
• Community leaders need to believe strongly in what hey are working on. Other leaders will be more likely to take them seriously if their heart is in it.  When their is a passion it can come through how you speak and get your message across.  Resources necessary is a in depth knowledge and willingness to learn as much as possible. This makes it so that the leader is well aware of changes or intricate parts that make their issue important.
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Personal Advocacy Reflection

A personal experience would be my own adoption at age 2.  I don't remember it personally but I have heard many stories about it. When my birth mother was pregnant with me she had all the intentions in the world to have an abortion but when she went to have it done her doctor told he could not do it because she was just days past the deadline according to Colorado law.  After I was born she kept me and my older brother until I was just under 2 years old.  Without telling many people she took us to Montana to "Visit" some friends.  It was only a weekend trip so she headed back to Colorado at the end of the weekend except it was only she and my brother making the trip back.  She had left me with her friends for an undecided amount of time.  After a period of time the friend s called her asking if she was coming back at which time she told them she would sign her right away if they could either keep me or find some that wanted me.  They got in touch with the Catholic Social Services and I was put into foster care.  It was told to me that the friends here in Montana really fought to make sure I was safe and that being put up for adoption would be the option for me to have a happy childhood.  It was documented in my file that they called weekly to check on me and get update.  

                             

I think this is the reason for my passion to help children comes from knowing how it feels to not belong.  In a perfect world every single child would be loved and well taken care of.  Even with limited income a family can love unconditionally and protect their children rather than cause harm whether it is emotional, physically, or psychologically. 

Hypothetical Family Situation

 

My husband and I have been married for quite a while and have tried to have a child for many years with no success. We are deep in the adoption process and have been notified by our social worker that a 2 yr. old little girl is up for adoption from Mexico.  After seeing her picture we fall in love and ask what we need to do.  The social worker says she needs to warn us before we move forward that the little girl is very healthy except for the fact she is deaf.  As a couple we decide with some guidance we still want to move forward. 

My husband and I both and make salaries that keep us both very comfortable.  We own our home, my husband works 8-5 Monday through Friday and I work 9-6 with the option to work from home.  It has already been decided I will begin working from home when we are able to adopt.  Our families live close and have already agreed to help in any way they can including daycare so I can either go into the office or have time to work at home with no interruption. 

The sector we will benefit the most from is Early Learning and Development and Support needing services that will teach us to communicate with the child preferable beginning before she comes home and continuing after her arrival  so that we as a couple and our family can become comfortable with the situation.  Specific services that will be needed is classes that will teach us sign language in order to communicate, and family classes so that our immediate family can have some knowledge as well since they will be involved in her care too. A support group that puts us with other parents in similar situations giving us the opportunity the make friends, ask questions, and build a support base that we can call and lean on when difficulties arise.  When the child arrives we need to have a child therapist in place that can work with the child on communication and interactive skills so that when she begins school she will have the basics necessary to communicate with the educators and peers.  With the help of our support system we will look for a pediatrician that can help us take care of the health needs of the child including making sure she is caught up on immunizations etc. after she gets home.

The Political Will to Improve Special Education

 

• The strategy that will help students with special needs is the charter program that the government is implementing allowing parents to choose the school their children attend based on the education provided and the needs of the children.   This will make it possible for schools to offer programs to families that can only be provided through the charter program.  Families deserve to have a choice in their children's education.  It will also inspire schools to try harder to employee the best educators that can help the students be successful increasing the success rate.  Right now schools are at a stand still and unable to improve the students success.  If families begin choosing other schools it can push the educators and leaders to strive for much more in order to maintain the number of students attending their school.  As an advocate it would be important to guide families towards the schools that would best benefit their needs.  Providing the family with options and guidance towards the educational environment that their children can thrive would allow advocates to feel like they are making a difference which is what drives every advocates heart.
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