Call for Book Chapters

Volume 6: Child Advocacy and Early Childhood Education Policies in the Caribbean

This volume will explore early childhood education policies and practices in the Caribbean. Early childhood development has gained increasing importance as part of national agendas to achieve social and economic goals. Regional guidelines and action plans have been developed, but progress across nations varies. Chapters in the book will analyze child policies and issues, critically examine progress on alignment between policies and practices, and propose recommendations for advocacy and implementation that may advance the early childhood development agenda throughout the Caribbean.

Submit your chapter proposal by Microsoft Word email attachment by May 15, 2012. Include a one page proposal outlining your chapter and clearly identifying your primary area of emphasis. Include a brief biography describing your current institutional affiliation and position and a listing of your relevant publications and educational background. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by June 15, 2012 and sent chapter organizational guidelines.

Send proposals and inquiries to both:
Ilene Berson iberson@usf.edu and Michael Berson berson@usf.edu

Each book chapter will include the following components:
Vignette
The vignette aims to provide an authentic example of an issue and its impact on young children in a real or hypothetical organization. It is often based on actual situations, which may be fictionalized to protect confidentiality. It is especially important for readers to clearly see the relevance and importance of the topic in reading the vignette. Therefore, in addition to the description of a specific problem, a vignette should include additional information necessary to place the scenario in context (such as questions of policy or procedure, issues relating to reporting relationships or hierarchies or financial or administrative concerns) which will be addressed in subsequent sections of the chapter where you will provide an analysis of possible solutions or actions arising from the situation.

Defining the Issue in the Caribbean
Context and importance of the problem The purpose of this section of the chapter is to identify and describe a current and urgent advocacy issue which requires action. The context and importance of the problem includes the following:
- A clear statement of the problem or issue in focus.
- An overview of the root causes of the problem
- A statement of the policy implications of the problem which clearly establishes the current importance and policy relevance of the issue.

Recommendations for Policy and Practice
The aim of the policy recommendations section is to guide early childhood educators and advocates regarding actions they might take in order to best help young children and their families.
- Describe current policies and recommendations for action with research-based evidence to support your ideas.
- A breakdown of the specific practical steps or measures that need to be implemented
- Include a closing paragraph re-emphasizing the importance of action and/or connecting this action back to the vignette

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR PUBLICATION
Submission of book chapter proposals: May 15, 2012
Notification of accepted chapter proposals: June 15, 2012
Submission of full book chapters: January 15, 2013
Reviews of book chapter manuscripts sent to author(s): February 15, 2013
Receipt by editors of final draft of book chapters: May 15, 2013
Final book submitted to publisher: June 15, 2013
Anticipated publication: Fall 2013