1. Early Childhood Education Professional Organizations
Fall 2014

2. The Who of Early Childhood Education: The Teachers/Caregivers
What are the advantages of belonging to a professional organization?
What does the term “profession” mean for early childhood educators?
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3. Why Join?
Membership in a professional organization provides excellent opportunities for early childhood educators to get together and exchange ideas.
Your involvement demonstrates your commitment to professional growth and improvement in the lives of young children.
Belonging to an organization that offers increased knowledge and skills can result in professional growth and success.
The field of early childhood education includes an abundance of organizations that support the professional development of early childhood teachers and that promote improvements in services to young children. Teachers become members of one or more of these associations to help them grow professionally, stay current on early childhood issues, and participate in group efforts to promote change.

4. Family Child Care Associations
Family child care associations are created specifically to support home-based providers of child care.
Associations seek to enable these providers to do their work, while maintaining a healthy environment for both the children and the providers.
Associations represent members that experience the everyday ordeals and face the obstacles of running a small business in addition to providing the peer support, path to enhancing the professionalism of family child care and a link to the greater child care community.
Associations may provide monthly meetings and workshops specifically designed for family child care providers

5. NAFCC National Association for Family Child Care
NAFCC is dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care. NAFCC provides technical assistance to family child care associations by promoting leadership development and by promoting quality and professionalism through the organization's accreditation process for family child care providers.

6. NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Largest American early childhood professional organization, which deals with issues of children from birth to age eight and those who work with young children.
Instructor's Manual for Introduction to Early Childhood Education by Eva Essa Cengage NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. The Association administers a voluntary, national accreditation system for high-quality early childhood programs, sponsors a variety of initiatives to improve professional preparation of early childhood educators, and produces a wide array of early childhood resources. NAEYC membership provides participation in both national and local services through the Association's network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates.e.

7. ACEI Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
Professional organization that focuses on issues of children from infancy to early adolescence, particularly those involving international and intercultural concerns.
ACEI is a global community of educators and advocates who unite knowledge, experience, and perspectives in order to exchange information, explore innovation, and advocate for children. The Association promotes and supports the optimal education and development of children, from birth through early adolescence, and the professional growth of educators and others committed to the needs of children in a changing society.

8. NHSA National Head Start Association
NHSA is dedicated to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families.
The Association provides support for the Head Start community by advocating for policies to strengthen Head Start services; providing training and professional development to Head Start staff; and developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.

9. SECA
The Southern Early Childhood Association is an organization that has served the children, families, and early childhood professionals of the South for over 50 years. When you join SECA, you become a member of a group that counts over 20,000 early childhood professionals as part of the team. The Southern Early Childhood Association is an organization committed to promoting quality care and education for young children and their families. SECA is the oldest early childhood professional association in the South. SECA has organizations in these states:

11. NCCCC