Child Advocacy
Actively supporting children’s rights and well-being.
What is child advocacy?
Policy helping families balance work & caregiving.
What is family leave?
Federal program for low-income young children.
What is family leave?
Food assistance program.
What is SNAP?
Teachers must legally report this.
What is suspected child abuse or neglect?
Primary role of a child advocate.
What is speaking up for children’s needs?
This federal act mandates job-protected unpaid leave for family or medical needs.
What is FMLA?
A key goal of early childhood programs highlighted in the chapter.
What is school readiness?
This medical insurance program assists low-income families and children.
What is Medicaid?
The set of protections granted to children in educational settings.
What are children’s rights?
This professional group often collaborates with advocates to promote child welfare policies.
What are community agencies / social workers?
This term refers to benefits provided to support low-income families with children.
What are family support programs?
Quality early childhood programs improve long-term outcomes in these two areas.
What are education and health?
Mena-Gonzalez explains this stereotype often affects public support for welfare programs.
What is the belief that families misuse benefits?
This federal law protects the education rights of children with disabilities.
What is IDEA?
A major barrier that prevents families from advocating effectively.
What is lack of information or power?
A reason Mena-Gonzalez says family policies differ widely between states.
What is variation in political, cultural, and economic priorities?
One major barrier to accessing early childhood programs.
What is cost or limited availability?
This benefit helps reduce child hunger by providing free or reduced lunch.
What is the National School Lunch Program?
Regulations setting minimum standards for child care programs.
What are licensing requirements?
Mena-Gonzalez describes this skill as essential for effective advocacy and influencing legislation.
What is professional communication with policymakers?
A major impact of strong family policy on young children’s development.
What is improved stability and well-being?
Mena-Gonzalez states this policy area dramatically influences early childhood program funding.
What is state and federal legislation?
Policy changes in this area often change eligibility rules and benefit levels.
What is public welfare reform?
Mena-Gonzalez emphasizes that teachers must understand these to avoid professional liability.
What are legal and ethical responsibilities?