The programs that would be analyzed for the current discourse are the Early Head Start Program of the Children's Aid Society and the Promise Neighborhoods Program. At the onset, the two programs share similarities in terms of focusing on the educational needs of children in poor or disadvantaged neighborhoods. Likewise, the strengths of both programs identified their apparent capacities to address, not only the academic needs of children, but also eventually earmarking an improvement in the welfare of these marginalized families through improving the socio-emotional and educational needs of their children.
On the other hand, these two programs have differences in terms of target population. The Early Head Start Program is specifically targeted to the local community in Brooklyn, New York (state oriented) ; whereas the Promise Neighborhoods Program did not mention any local community in particular (federal oriented) and was noted to have benefited religious organizations or non-profit institutions . Further, the evaluation of the weaknesses of these programs revealed that the former program caters only to specified localities; whereas the latter identified sustaining and supporting funding requirements as needing improvement. Thus, the Early Head Start program’s recommendation was fairly restricted and limited to Brooklyn as its focal point; in contrast to the Promise Neighborhoods Program which is more widely encompassing and recommends increasing the allocated budget by the federal government; as well as catering to other worthy recipients other than the usual organizations which were expressly noted. Finally, due to the orientation and target recipients, the Early Head Start Program policy memo was actually addressed to the President and CEO of the Children's Aid Society who would have the authority and capacity to decide on the proposed recommendation. In contrast, the addressee for the policy memo for the Promise Neighborhoods Program was Honorable Barbara Mikulski, Chair to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Therefore, reviewing the recommendations and taking action on the latter program would entail the more comprehensive evaluation and review of committee members before any action could be implemented.
Works Cited
"First Policy Memo: Why Children's Aid Sociey should open an Early Head Start Center in Brooklyn, New York." n.d. Print.
"Second Policy Memo: Nature and Reasons to Implement and Fully Fund the Promise Neighborhoods Program." n.d. Print.
