Why Volunteering Matters!

Having done a lot of volunteering over my life, I can say there are many benefits all around.

You are helping someone or something else. Your help and support sends a message that this matters to me. It delivers the message to the public. It can be a mood lifter to a person if they are the one being served. And, it can help boost your own feelings about yourself too. I heard in a talk once, volunteering can help lift depression. Nannies can sometimes get the blues. But when I work with grieving children in bereavement programs. I hear stories of what they have been through and what they face now and in the future. All of the sudden some of the people and things I get worked up about don't matter anymore.

When a nanny volunteers she is expanding her network of contacts. I have so many references because of places I have helped with. People get to know one another working side by side. And, when people learn I am nanny it creates a more favorable image of our industry.

Volunteering can offer training in new subjects. As I've worked in some organizations I have had to go through orientation where I have learned things that I can take back in to my day job. I have done a lot of teaching in religious education programs and have been trained to do different styles of curriculum based on various education philosophies. A big one was a concept based on Montessori. Some methods I used in the classroom are now ones I can use with my charges.

Volunteering can lead to mentoring others. I have worked with bereavement organizations. With TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) not only have a learned how be a mentor to a grieving military child, but had to take two classes in the grief process. With others there I have shared with them and Hospice (another place I volunteer with) what it is like to be in the home with the children day and day out who have lost a parent. All these experiences have led me to times when nannies experience a death at work and need advise on how to proceed.

Questions about volunteering get asked on resumes and in interviews all the time. It matters to potential employers. It can be impress them. I've seen this so often in my own career.

When a nanny tells me they are volunteering at places I take notice too. I know our jobs can be challenging and time consuming. I admire nannies who are able to organize their time and energy to be able to volunteer and be committed to other things. Things that are bigger and far-reaching than some issue at work that week.

This is why the volunteering question is important on the application. Not just for this Nanny Contest. But in the application of life in general.

Why the questions on the application form

(I'm not sure where my post is that I wrote on this. Hhmmm)
Anyway.

The question was asked, why all the questions on the application form. Okay, I'll be honest I borrowed it from a NAEYC scholarship form that I've seen recently, including the recommendation part too.

The name and contact information would be needed if one were to be a recipient so that I can enter it into the subscription information with CCEI.

I would like to offer this opportunity to a cross section of different types of nannies all over the country. I would also like to offer it to nannies that may be using different nanny discussion boards and associations in hope that they will report back to them how their studies are going. THE BIG MISSION here is to get nannies across the country learning about childcare and child development so that they can perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.

If a nanny is unemployed, this is important to me to know. I have been there in this whole economy mess. The stress is hard, and it would be my hope that the training opportunities provides them something to do while they job hunt. And perhaps makes them more marketable too.

If a nanny is employed, answering a question about employer(s) can provide just a glimpse as to what type of household it might be. I've worked for single parents, divorced ones, widowers, gay, etc. and nannies in positions like these are special to me as well.

If a nanny lists ages of charges, I can tell if those kids fall in the range of the ECE courses offered at CCEI. And in particular, should a nanny receive a subscription I can make suggestions on what courses they might want to take first to help them with their current job.

If a nanny gets recommendation letters, there is nothing preventing them from retaining copies for their own portfolios as well. When I did this for NAEYC, yes that contest ended awhile ago, but I still have my recommendation letter in my portfolio.

I will respect privacy, just as I want mine respected. I just to make sure nannies are applying and not some spammers or whatever.

This contest is legitimate. I have a lot at stake regarding my own professional reputation. I have projects going on and volunteer involvement in programs where a positive image matters too.

If you have questions or concerns please email me at lovingcarebylisa@gmail.com

Thanks

So I thought my blog would be ...

I wondered if it would help those interested in this contest to see what the catalog for the Childcare Education Institute courses would look here at my blog.

Yes, I know I mentioned earlier that if one clicks on a title of a course in their online catalog they can see descriptions of what these courses are about. But I thought, I can just make a document on all this cut and pasting the titles and descriptions all together in one document so that one could have them all at one glance and be amazed by all the options out there for one to learn about in Early Childhood Education. Then they would be excited to enter this simple contest, and get this awesome free deal in nanny related training.

Well, the document I created is 22 pages long. No one will read a blog that long. I'm not sure if there is room for me to post something so big.

It was fun creating the document and being reminded of all the great courses I've taken and the things I've learned.

I hope at least this blog excites you about the possibilities.

Modernizing Mari Poppinz Nanny Essay Contest!

The Top 20 Nanny Responders Win A One Year Subscription To The ChildCare Education Institute's Online Courses.

Purpose of this contest:

To encourage nannies to receive training or continuing education in child development so they’ll be more knowledgeable and able to provide better care to children.

To boost the confidence of nannies who are in the interviewing process. To allow them the opportunity to earn clock hours and become a better qualified candidate for positions.

To honor the National Association of Nanny Care's efforts to create the Three Tier Nanny Credential.

Reason for this contest:

For many years I’ve worked in challenging, underpaid positions. I have also been under-employed during the current economic downturn. Now, I am in a great stable and secure position. Since starting this job I continued my credentialing via online training programs like ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), Childcare Lounge, Perpetual Preschool, and Foster Parent training sites. It was convenient to log in any time 24/7 to acquire quality, affordable education at home. (I often study on my laptop in bed. Or while my charge naps.) I have earned a wide range of clock hours for a very reasonable investment. Also, with this employment status, I have the ability to be more available to mentor other nannies and give back to the nanny industry that I have been a part of for so long.


What Applicants Need To Do:

Cut and paste the following information into a word document.

Answer the questions and find two references (Hopefully one other caregiver or nanny agent and one employer) to submit the reference form on your behalf.

Email to lovingcarebylisa@gmail.com your application and references BY OCTOBER 28, 2009.

Those receiving the subscriptions will be notified by November 1, 2009.

CCEI has the following requirements to enroll in their programs:

(Do not apply unless you meet these requirements.)

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must possess a high school diploma or GED and submit documentation as proof
• Must have access to a computer and printer
• Must have a valid email address
• Must have access to the Internet through a JavaScript enabled web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Mozilla Firefox, etc.)
• Must be able to speak, read, and write well enough in the language the course is presented in to understand and complete the course material.

Applicant Information

Name:

Street:

Telephone:

Name(s) of Current or Most Recent Employer:

Age of charges:

Highest Level of Education:

Years in the Field:

Briefly describe your current or most recent duties and responsibilities:

How did you find your nanny position(s)?

Do you have a personal website or blog?

Do you participate in any online nanny discussion boards? If so, which one(s)?

List any volunteer work or offices held with any early childhood educational and/or youth organizations:

Have you held any other jobs in the past that involved working with youth?

List 2 previous professional development opportunities you attended and when:

What books, magazines, websites, or other resources do you find useful to help you with your employment as a caregiver?

Courses generally take a few hours of time to complete depending on note taking, subject matter, etc. and a CCEI student is allowed to take up to 6 courses a day. Are you able to commit to completing at least 1 to 2 courses each week?

(Contest winners who fail to accomplish earning one to two courses a week on average will forfeit their right to the subscription, and some other applicant will be allowed to take their spot in the program. Warning emails will go out.)

If you were to receive one of the subscriptions would you be willing to be a guest blogger at this site and provide updates on courses you are taking, highlighting things you have learned, and so forth?

Thoughtfully describe how you plan to be creative and innovative in putting the knowledge and experience gained with your training to use for your career and the nanny community. (300 words)

_____________________________________

Recommendation Form

Name of Applicant:

Name of Person Submitting Recommendation:

Contact Information:

How long have you known the applicant?

Please tell how you know the applicant.

Describe why you think this applicant deserves to win a CCEI subscription. (250 words minimum.)