Shalini’s Story

Shalini is a young woman who knows exactly where she’s headed. A chance experience tutoring young children as a high school student while in SCO’s foster care program ignited her passion for teaching, and now guides her every step.

With a razor-sharp focus on achieving her goals, Shalini has mapped out her immediate and long-term plans. First, she’ll graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree in early education. And then it’s off to graduate school to earn her master’s in teaching. A few years ago, these might have been considered lofty goals, but with the right supports in place, Shalini is well on her way.

Shalini was placed in SCO’s Foster Care program after the death of her father 9 years ago. While safe and well-cared for by her foster family, she was angry and worried about the future. “I needed a team to support me and advise me, and give me the right tools to succeed,” she reflects.

And a team is exactly what she received. SCO provided the resources, services, and guidance she needed to become her best self. During high school, a team of education and mental health specialists helped Shalini overcome obstacles and helped her to realize she “did not have to transition to adulthood alone.” She participated in mentoring programs, made new connections, and built relationships with other young adults in care. As her confidence grew, Shalini began tutoring children from a nearby elementary school as part of her program with SCO. That was the “aha” moment that shaped her future. She fell in love with teaching!

When it was time for college, SCO’s staff helped Shalini complete applications, navigate financial aid, and apply to the Dorm Project, which enables her to live in a college dorm all year round. Her SCO coach remains a constant presence and is even helping Shalini work towards getting a driver’s license.

Today, Shalini is a rising junior at Hunter College, and we have no doubt she will achieve all she sets out to accomplish.

Shana’s Story

I have been challenged with addiction for 10 years, and have been in and out of outpatient treatment and detox several times – but I would always relapse.

When I arrived at Morning Star, I was at the lowest point in my life. Things were spiraling out of control. My four children had been taken from me and placed in foster care with a family member. And then I learned that I was 5 months pregnant.

I arrived with the worst attitude in the world. I was just so angry all the time. But at Morning Star, I started to reflect and gain clarity. I realized that I was hurt and angry with myself. And that’s when the healing began. Everything had been a fight up to that point. But I had nowhere to run – I had to face my problems.

Morning Star helped save my life. They never gave up on me.

Every interaction with my counselor and every staff member helped prepare me to re-enter the world clean and ready to thrive.

I attended treatment 5 days a week, attended a medical assistant program, and became certified in a workforce development program for nontraditional roles for women. And I learned that I am worth it! From now on, I show up, set up, and remain teachable.

When my baby, Liliana, was born, I can’t express how much the onsite child care at Morning Star II helped in my recovery. It made it possible for me to go to treatment, attend school, and focus on me. The structure kept me accountable for being a parent and prepared e for the real world.

I knew I was finally on a path to a better life when I left Morning Star. The court saw the improvements in me, too, and my children came back home to me. I never thought that would happen. Today, thanks to Morning Star, I have a home and my family lives under one roof.

I still visit the program to let them know of my progress. My goal is to be fully self-supported. I know there will be obstacles ahead of me. But I am prepared to take it one day at a time.

Resources

 

Early Childhood Organizations – New York State & City

New York City Division of Early Childhood Education (NYC DECE)
http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/EarlyChildhood/

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute  (CUNY PDI)
http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/

New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC) 
Mission is to promote excellence in early care and education services for NYS children and families, through education, advocacy and the support of the profession.
http://www.nysaeyc.org/

New York Zero-to-Three (NYZTT)
New York regional network promoting the optimal development of young children, their families and their communities.
http://www.nyztt.org/

QualityStarsNYS
http://www.qualitystarsny.org/

New York State Early Childhood Advisory Council
Provides strategic direction and advice to the State of New York on early childhood issues.
http://www.nysecac.org/

Winning Beginning NY
An early care and learning coalition.
http://www.winningbeginningny.org/

ReadyNation
http://www.readynation.org/


Early Childhood Organizations – National

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The nation’s leading voice for high-quality early childhood education for children from birth to age 8.
http://www.naeyc.org/

Zero to Three
The national center for infants, toddler and their families.
http://www.zerotothree.org/

Teach for America
Teach For America is growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education.
http://www.teachforamerica.org/

Jumpstart
Jumpstart is the only national supplemental program that leverages the power of community and adult-child relationships to build the key language and literacy skills children need to take on the world.
http://www.jstart.org/

Child Care Exchange
Supporting early childhood education professionals worldwide in their efforts to craft thriving environments for children and adults.
http://www.childcareexchange.com/

The Future of Children
Providing research and analysis to promote effective policies and programs for children.
http://futureofchildren.org/

Center on the Developing Child
Mission is to drive science-based innovation that achieves breakthrough outcomes for children facing adversity.
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/

Foundation for Child Development
http://fcd-us.org/

New America EdCentral
http://www.edcentral.org/

McCormick Center on Early Childhood Leadership
http://cecl.nl.edu/

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
http://fpg.unc.edu/

Alliance for Early Success
http://www.earlysuccess.org/

Child Trends
http://www.childtrends.org/

Earlychildhood NEWS
Online resource for Teachers and Parents of children, from infants to age 8 years.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/


Academic Institutions

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute (CUNY PDI)
http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/

Bank Street College of Education
https://bankstreet.edu/

Teachers College at Columbia University
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/

New York University Steinhardt School
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/

Hunter College School of Education
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/school-of-education

Brooklyn College
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/academics/fieldsofstudy/undergraduate/earlychildhoodteacher.php

The City College of New York, CUNY
http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/earlychildhooded/


Leadership Literature

Young Children – January 2005: Leadership in Early Childhood Education
http://www.naeyc.org/yc/pastissues/2005/january

The Impact of Leadership Development on Early Childhood Education
http://www.pdfdrive.com/download/3381012

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – Early Childhood Leaders on Leadership
http://www.pdfdrive.com/early-childhood-leaders-on-leadership-naeyc-e4838237.html

A Study of Leaders’ Perspectives on Improving the Early Childhood
http://www.pdfdrive.com/a-study-of-leaders-perspectives-on-improving-the-early-childhood-e6598071.html


Early Childhood Literature

Science of Early Childhood Development
An online resource for teachers of young children focused entirely on the science of child development. This reource presents 5 modules, each focused on specific areas of child development, including developmental health, brain development, genetics and experience, coping and competence and communication and learning.
http://www.scienceofecd.com/


Job Opportunities

Please visit following resources to view available job opportunities in early childhood education:

New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/career/jobopportunities.cfm

Idealist.org
http://www.idealist.org/


Other Resources

Powerful Interactions
http://www.powerfulinteractions.com/

The New York State Core Body of Knowledge
http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/resources/CBK.cfm

New York State Early Learning Guidelines
http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/resources/ELG.cfm

New York State Foundations for the Common Core
http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/resources/Prek.cfm

Shalini’s Story

Destined for success with support from her SCO team

Read Shalini’s Story

Shana’s Story

"Morning Star helped save my life. They never gave up on me."

Read Shana’s Story

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