Teachers, Caregivers, and the Community
hile a teacher’s or caregiver’s time and energy are primarily devoted to young children and their families, they will find that it is also advantageous to tune into, and network with, the larger community. Examples of useful connections include “service providers and organizations such as Catholic and district school boards; child and youth services; departments of health, social, and community service; and regional police services.” Then there are “service clubs, libraries, businesses, and parentchild centers” (Dickinson, Lothian, & Jonz, 2007, p. 50). Your own community may have others as well. As a professional, you will have networking responsibilities: “Effective teachers provide support and resources for families in need; develop networks of complementary professionals with whom they can consult on a variety of topics; network with other programs, directors, and staff; engage in dialogue; learn from one another; and provide support and resources” (NAEYC, n.d., p. 62). Following are examples of centers and schools that have been successfully proactive in working with community members and organizations, both for their own benefit and to benefit their communities.