Code of Ethics

Childhood is a unique and valuable stage in the human life cycle. Our paramount responsibility is to provide care and education in settings that are safe, healthy, nurturing, and responsive for each child (NAEYC. 2005). In order for a professional serving children in early childhood the professional is obligated to ethical responsibilities to children, such as the following;

• ·      1-1.1 – To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and stay informed through continuing education.
• ·      1-1.9 – To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful.

The foundation of this code is based on sound ethical reasoning related to professional practice with young children with disabilities and their families and with interdisciplinary colleagues (The Division for Early Childhood. 2000).  As a professional working with children and families along with other professionals in order to be successful we must practice the following;

• ·      We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of early childhood special education.

Although there are many more code of ethics that professionals in Early Childhood must follow these 3 are more meaningful to me. I know that in order to provide effective services to children, families, and my colleagues continuing education is a must. Through life things change and staying up to date and in tune with the latest will only help me to better provide services. Counting education can be as simple as a webinar, workshop or training!

Also, knowing when a child may need services is not only important but crucial to a child’s development. Parents must know that we are there to support them through every step of the way and ensure services are rendered in a timely manner. We have to speak up for them when they do not know how to!

Finally, there is no “I” in team. Together with your colleagues, or other professionals that can contribute to the children and families that we serve, especially those with special needs deserve honor and respect. Working together is always better than working alone!  

I recently had the pleasure of watching this video based on 5 different professionals who spoke on their views in regards to leadership and advocacy. They were all great and had wonderful things to say but Ms. Renatta Cooper’s words on advocacy just brought chills to by body because this is exactly how I feel about advocacy, this is how everyone should feel. Here is what she had to say;

“How to be and advocate and what does that really mean? It’s speaking up for someone who’s not able to speak up for themselves, being the voice for the voiceless. And I believe that if you see that as part as whom you are, and part of what draws you to this work that you do not have to run around looking for ways in which you need to advocate, it will find you and it will come in a meaningful way and in a very natural way and at the same time you will know, if you really pay attention, so you need that strong inner voice that inner guidance, you will know when this is for you to do and when you need to get someone else’s support. When you are advocating you are doing what’s best for someone else, someone that does not have the access you have someone who does not have the voice that you have. So this can never be about you, and sometimes you are just making a bridge and it may be the other person on the other side of the bridge that is going to get all the credit for it and you know what, that’s ok, because if you are doing it for the child and you are doing it for the family, the point is that they get over the bridge (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).” 

NAEYC. (2005). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. 
Retrieved from: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

The Division for Early Childhood. (2000). Code of  ethics. 
Retrieved from http://www.dec-sped.org/(NAEYC, 2005). (DEC, 2000).

Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). Professionalism, advocacy, and leadership in early childhood.

Retrieved from: https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_4855535_1%26url%3D