Columbus, Ohio: Yesterday, Groundwork Ohio announced the launch of the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship. The Fellowship was created to empower and uplift the voices of early education and health professionals to support investments and policies that improve outcomes for young children and families in Ohio.
Beginning in 2020, Fellows from across the state will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio. Fellows will engage in a hybrid curriculum designed to build upon leadership and communications skills, expand knowledge around the landscape of Ohio’s early childhood systems, and empower participants to take on leadership roles in their communities and the early education and health professions across the state. After completion of the program, leaders will continue to foster relationships within their communities and with fellow alumni through Fellowship’s alumni network and ongoing programming with Groundwork.
“Over the past several years we have engaged with early educators and early childhood healthcare providers across the state and have heard a consistent message: ‘We want to advocate for the children and families we serve, but we don’t know how,’” said Shannon Jones, Executive Director of Groundwork Ohio. “We are excited to help elevate the voices of these hardworking, passionate professionals who work with Ohio’s youngest and most vulnerable children every day and to further advance our efforts to improve outcomes for children, families, communities, and our state.”
Groundwork is accepting applications through Friday, December 13th from early childhood professionals to include home- and center-based providers, home visitors, early childhood mental health providers, preschool educators, higher education professionals educating future early educators, and other early childhood professionals. To learn more about the program or to apply, please visit: www.groundworkohio.org/fellowship.
Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families and communities.
To learn more about Groundwork Ohio visit www.GroundworkOhio.org and follow us on Twitter @GroundworkOhio and Facebook, www.facebook.com/GroundworkOhio.
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