OMEP-USA Overview
OMEP-USA is one of more than 70 national committees or chapters of World OMEP. OMEP-USA members are diverse and represent early childhood and K-20 educators and administrators, health and social service workers, policy makers, lawyers, journalist, parents, activists and many other early childhood advocates.
OMEP-USA works locally, nationally and internationally to promote the health, development, rights and education of the world’s children and families. We advocate for high quality early education for all children everywhere by educating ourselves and others about important issues related to children, families and early education. This enables us to speak up for children whenever and wherever the opportunity arises.
OMEP-USA Bylaws
The formal name of this organization shall be the United States National Committee of Organization Mondiale pour l’Education Prescolaire (OMEP), the World Organization for Early Childhood Education. In practice this organization shall be referred to as OMEP-USA. The acronym is used to facilitate understanding of the organization.
Our bylaws outline the following:
- Organization name and affiliation;
- Aims and objectives
- Membership structure and dues
- Governing board
- Elections
- Finances
- Committees
- Parliamentary Authority
- Agreement with other organizations
- Amendment of the By-Laws
- Dissolution of the Organization
To obtain a copy of our bylaws please send a request to [email protected]
OMEP-USA Annual Reporting
OMEP’s visibility and influence on the global stage have increased dramatically in recent years. We now have a very good relationship with UNESCO, UNICEF, Global Partnership for Education, The Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development, and many other organizations and agencies.
Use the options below to view our annual reports.
Document Options
OMEP-USA Board of Directors
The Governing Board administers the affairs of the organization in accordance with the OMEP-USA Bylaws, in pursuit of the realization of our aims and objectives. The Governing Board has full authority to determine policy and to initiate and implement the organization’s programs and activities.
Click here to view our Board of Directors
OMEP-Whittier College
OMEP’s first collegiate chapter was founded at Whittier College in 1996. Since that time, the chapter has been one of the strongest and most active student clubs and has won “Outstanding Student Organization” and “Outstanding Student Organization President” awards several times.
The chapter’s aims mirror World OMEP’s mission and aims, namely to use all means possible to promote the well being, safety, health, rights, and education of the world’s children, their families, and the institutions that serve them. Each semester the faculty advisors and student leaders decide on a theme or focus. Each semester members of OMEP-Whittier College may register for a one-unit course designed to complement the activities of the campus chapter through more thorough study of the focus issues and to build skills for effective and responsible child advocacy.
OMEP-USA University of Alabama
OMEP USA-UAB Chapter, is the first student led OMEP Chapter at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The Chapter was launched in Spring 2012 by a founding group of students at the UAB School of Education. Membership is open to students of all majors who are interested in the advancement of child advocacy and well-being both in the United States and Internationally. UAB has diverse undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and a student population of all ages, from all walks of life, religions and ethnic backgrounds from as many as 87 countries. The Chapter’s advocacy and service learning projects is on children and families with autism in the United States and those affected by AIDS in Kenya.
Washburn University-Topeka, KS
Dr. Judith McConnell-Farmer is the University Advisor and Sponsor of the OMEP-USA Student Organization, WU-OMEP, with 35 active members, the majority who are majoring in early childhood education.
CUNY Medgar Evers College –Brooklyn, NY
As the first student chapter east of the Mississippi river, CUNY Medgar Evers has concluded their first semester as an instrumental organization within the university. Their focus is to work as advocates for children and families, both nationally and internationally.
Southern New Hampshire University (OMEP-SNHU)
“OMEP’s Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) student chapter, in Manchester New Hampshire, was founded in December 2015 and is the second student lead chapter. This student chapter was founded by a group of students in the SNHU School of Education department, but aims to incorporate everyone of all majors. SNHU is a tightly knit community with a diverse population. The Manchester, NH community is also a diverse melting pot that has over 80 different nationalities represented in their schools and neighborhoods. This student chapter aims to embody the goals of UNICEF: protecting, providing access to food, supporting, and caring for kids at risk at their monthly meetings.”
Children's Chapter
The first children’s chapter of OMEP was formed at The Broadoaks School of Whittier College in 2007. It’s purpose is to promote children’s awareness of global children’s issues, children’s rights, and children’s ability to help maintain a peaceful and sustainable world for children, their families, their schools, and their neighborhoods. All Broadoaks students, from preschool through 9th grade, are automatically members of the group. In accordance with their age and grade level, each class participates in activities developed by the children, the teachers, and OMEP-Whittier College.
The children refer to their efforts as “Children-Helping-Children Projects.”
For instance, the children donate half of everything they grow in the class gardens to a local soup kitchen. They collaborate with members of the collegiate chapter to study various children’s charitable organizations and determine which ones will receive donations from the annual Jog-a-Thon.
In 2010 and 2011 , they donated most of the proceeds to OMEP relief efforts in Haiti and Japan after major earthquakes there. In 2013 and 2014, they donated the proceeds to a local shelter for women and children who have been victims of abuse and to an organization that provides facial reconstructive surgeries for South American children with Cleft lip.
As with the collegiate chapter, the focus is on gaining knowledge, sharing information, and developing skills for effective and responsible child advocacy, as well as on encouraging young students to recognize that they have the capacity, even as children, to make a difference in the world.