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The Build Initiative compiled many of these resources for the Building Systems for Babies
meeting co-sponsored by Build, ZERO TO THREE and the Center for Law and Social Policy
(CLASP) held November 15-17, 2006 in Chicago.
Communications
Build Initiative Communications Resources
www.buildinitiative.org/communications.html
The Build Initiative maintains a comprehensive online list
of resources for states seeking to begin, enhance or expand
their communications efforts related to building early learning
systems. It includes resources that focus on the unique communications
needs of non-profits and public-private partnerships, particularly
those with an early childhood focus. Of special interest are
resources related to communications efforts in Ohio.
Effective Communication About the Early Years: Understanding
the Basics of Framing (2006)
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This article from the ZERO TO THREE Policy Center is designed
to provide infant-toddler professionals and researchers with
a basic introduction to some concepts of effective communications.
It first outlines the fundamentals of framing and then introduces
ways to think about reframing communications. The article
includes concrete examples of how to reframe a message related
to early childhood development. 5 pages.
Effective Communication About the Early Years: The Elements
of the Frame – Part One (2006)
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This article from the ZERO TO THREE Policy Center begins to
break down the process of reframing a message by examining
the strategic elements that comprise a frame. The elements
of a frame help people understand new information by providing
cues for how to interpret the communication. This article
focuses on context, numbers and messengers. 6 pages.
Effective Communication About the Early Years: The Elements
of the Frame – Part Two (2006)
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The last in the series, this article from the ZERO TO THREE
Policy Center looks at the elements of a frame and the ways
in which infant-toddler advocates can use these elements effectively
in communicating with policymakers. It focuses on visuals,
tone, metaphors and simplifying models – the research
that supports each element, and how to use it effectively
in communications. It also provides examples that relate each
element directly to communicating infant-toddler issues. 7
pages.
Framing the Birth to Three Agenda: Lessons Learned from
Pre-K Campaigns (2004)
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This Cultural Logic report published by the ZERO TO THREE
Policy Center examines messages about universal pre-kindergarten
and the impact they have on the birth to three agenda. The
report provides recommendations for framing pre-k messages
in ways that also support infant-toddler policies. 21 pages.
National and State Efforts to Create Public Engagement
to Support High-Quality Early Care and Education (2006)
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This document from the National Child Care Information Center
lists national organizations, state organizations and publications
that have information about national and state efforts to
use public education campaigns to create public awareness
of the need to support young children and high-quality care.
14 pages.
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Early Learning Guidelines
Early Learning Guidelines (2006)
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This document, published by the National Infant and Toddler
Child Care Initiative, provides tools and resources for states
in the process of developing early learning guidelines for
children birth to three. It focuses attention on issues that
should be considered throughout the development process, defines
early learning guidelines and program standards, and provides
links to states that have posted their guidelines online including
Build states Minnesota, Ohio and Washington. 6 pages.
State Infant and Toddler Early Learning Guidelines (2006)
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States are in various stages of preparing infant and toddler
early learning guidelines. This National Infant and Toddler
Child Care Initiative resource lists individual state documents
that focus on early learning guidelines. 4 pages.
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Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
Family, Friend and Neighbor Care Planning Template (2006)
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The Build Initiative designed this planning template and set
of next step questions to help states move forward with plans
for supporting the learning needs of young children cared
for primarily in family, friend and neighbor care settings.
6 pages.
Family, Friend and Neighbor Child Care: Resources and Organizations
(2006)
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This National Child Care Information Center document provides
a list of resources with information about family, friend
and neighbor care. 8 pages.
Resource Guide for Family, Friends and Neighbors Who Care
for Children
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This information booklet was developed as a resource for FFN
care providers in Washington state. 28 pages.
Sparking Connections Phase II: A Multi-Site Evaluation
of Community-Based Strategies to Support Family, Friend and
Neighbor Caregivers of Children (2006)
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This report presents an overview of Phase II of the Sparking
Connections initiative of the Families and Work Institute.
It focuses on lessons learned and recommendations that will
promote positive child development and learning. It discusses
issues of quality in FFN care and future needs and possibilities
for this work. A Research and Resources section includes descriptions
of all participating Sparking Connections sites, evaluations
of three sites, a summary of recent research on FFN quality
and a list of additional written and organizational resources.
57 pages.
Toward a National Strategy to Improve Family, Friend and
Neighbor Child Care (2006)
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Thirty-three experts from a range of research, policy, and
practice organizations came together for a symposium on Family,
Friend and Neighbor Care hosted by the National Center for
Children in Poverty in November 2005. This symposium report
outlines the picture of current FFN research, practice, and
policy that emerged and identifies next steps to strengthen
all three areas. 16 pages.
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Family Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
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This paper from the National Child Care Information Center
describes the Family and Medical Leave Act and lists relevant
organizations and publications. 4 pages.
Institute for Women’s Policy Research
www.iwpr.org
This website includes reports and fact sheets on paid sick
days and paid family leave.
Labor Project for Working Families
www.laborproject.org
In the "Paid Leave" section, this website provides
information about California’s paid leave program and
connects users to fact sheets on paid leave from Washington
state, paid sick leave information from Massachusetts and
family care leave in Maine.
What Children Need from Their Parents’ Employers (2006)
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Ellen Bravo of the Multi-State Working Families Consortium
presented this PowerPoint at the Building Systems for Babies
meeting in November 2006. The presentation examines challenges
and barriers that working parents face and their impact on
children. Public policy changes are also reviewed. 24 slides.
Where Families Matter: State Progress Toward Valuing America’s
Families (2006)
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State and federal policies have failed to keep up with the
family needs of a workforce that has changed dramatically
in the last few decades. However, state legislators, advocates,
policymakers, and researchers are increasingly responding
to the need for paid leave policies. This report from the
National Partnership for Women and Families provides a comprehensive
overview of the paid family and medical leave initiatives
that have been introduced in state legislatures in 2005. 30
pages.
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Family Strengthening
Coordination of Home Visiting Programs by States (2006)
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This list of resources, published by the National Child Care
Information Center includes information about state coordination
of multiple home visiting programs. Topics include sharing
information, developing home visiting protocols, coordinating
professional development and cross training professionals.
3 pages.
Home Visiting: Assessing Progress, Managing Expectations
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Home Visiting is an important strategy to promote healthy
child development. Dr. Deborah Daro reviews the evolution
of home visiting programs, research evaluating such programs,
and suggests strategies to move the field forward. Dr. Daro
is a research fellow at the Chapin Hall Center for Children
at the University of Chicago and is a member of the Ounce
of Prevention Fund Board of Directors. This report was published
jointly by the Ounce and Chapin Hall.
Implementation of Home Visitation Programs: Stories from
the States (2006)
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The characteristics of state-based home visiting systems vary
from one state to another and from one home-visiting program
to another. Despite differences in initial implementation
and context, state-based home visiting systems confront similar
sustainability challenges. This Chapin Hall Center for Children
issue brief explores how different states address the challenges
of funding, accountability and quality. 10 pages.
In-Home Family Education: Supporting Healthy Child Development
in the First Years of Life (2005)
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Partners in Community Outreach describes home visiting programs
in West Virginia in this policy report. The report makes the
case for a statewide system of home visiting by showing the
cost savings. It also provides recommendations for the development,
funding and implementation of a statewide system of home visitation.
22 pages.
Parent Support Advisory Group –Preliminary Recommendations
to Early Learning Council (2006)
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This PowerPoint presentation being utilized in early care
and education efforts in Washington state discusses the importance
of parent support to early learning and identifies specific
"Pillars of Support" that help families succeed.
13 slides.
Safe Start – How Early Experiences Can Help Reduce
Violence (1999)
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Strong evidence exists that the propensity for violent behavior
can be influenced by many factors in early childhood. This
paper from the Ounce of Prevention Fund explores these factors,
examines the evidence that early childhood programs work to
reduce crime, and spotlights a number of promising interventions
designed to support a child’s voluntary home visiting,
early childhood care and education, and community-based programs
for children who witness or are victims of violence. 6
pages.
Strengthening Families Through Early Care and Education
www.cssp.org/doris_duke/protective.html
In the 40 years since child abuse and neglect became a recognized
problem in the United States, there has been no sustained
success in reducing the incidence of child maltreatment. The
Strengthening Families Through Early Care and Education initiative
of the Center for the Study of Social Policy proposes a new,
effective and affordable strategy for child abuse and neglect
prevention. The project website provides more information
about this approach, which uses early childhood programs to
build evidence-based protective factors for children and their
families.
Strengthening Families Through Early Care and Education
(2006)
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This PowerPoint presentation describes the Strengthening Families
Through Early Care and Education initiative of the Center
for the Study of Social Policy. It includes a description
of protective factors, and identifies state pilot projects.
25 slides.
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Financing
Developing Fiscal Analyses and Children’s Budgets
to Support ECCS (2006)
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This National Center for Children in Poverty Project THRIVE
brief offers state Early Childhood Comprehensive System initiatives
practical advice on conducting fiscal scans and creating early
childhood budgets. Using a "how to" approach, this
document features exemplary approaches, tables and tools that
highlight state and local experience in fiscal analysis. 8
pages.
Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems that Spend Smarter:
Maximizing Resources to Serve Vulnerable Children (2006)
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This National Center for Children in Poverty Project THRIVE
issue brief looks through the lens of the state Early Childhood
Care Systems (ECCS) grant projects to identify ways in which
they can promote smarter spending for vulnerable young children
as they plan for and implement new, more integrated systems.
It has a special focus on promoting social and emotional health
and well-being. 24 pages.
Illinois’ Infant Toddler Set-Aside: What it is and
how it Works to Promote School Readiness
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In this paper, the Ounce of Prevention Fund discusses the
Illinois Early Childhood Education Block Grant, the creation
of the set-aside for infants and toddlers, and the types of
services funded through the set-aside. 3 pages.
Spending Smarter: A Funding Guide for Policymakers and
Advocates to Promote Social and Emotional Health and School
Readiness (2005)
Full report – 66 pages.
Download here
Summary – 10 pages.
Download here
Child care providers, teachers, and home visitors all struggle
with how to help young children facing risks to early school
success related to social and emotional challenges. Spending
Smarter is a publication of the National Center for Children
in Poverty designed to help policymakers, agency officials,
families, and other advocates maximize the impact of existing
funding streams to support positive social and emotional development,
early intervention, and treatment strategies that can improve
school readiness.
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Governance and System Elements
Birth to 5 and Beyond: A Growing Movement in Early Education
(2006)
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In creating a more holistic and responsive system of early
education, states and communities are recognizing that these
efforts must start by ensuring a healthy pregnancy and birth,
continue with a focus on the first 5 years and on through
kindergarten and the primary grades. This paper from the ZERO
TO THREE Policy Center examines the components of a comprehensive
birth to five state early childhood system and identifies
state initiatives that support infants and toddlers. 5
pages.
Building an Early Learning System: The ABCs of Planning
and Governance Structures (2004)
Full paper – 64 pages.
Download here
Summary – 4 pages.
Download here
This Child and Family Policy Center publication, developed
in collaboration with the Build Initiative, shares state models
and rules of thumb to consider in developing planning and
governance approaches to create and manage an early learning
system. The Build Initiative companion policy brief is intended
for policymakers and others.
Early Child Care and Education: State Governance Structures
(2006)
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This table from the National Child Care Information Center
provides an at-a-glance look at how each state early care
and education system is governed. It also includes internet
links for more specific state information. 21 pages.
Early Care and Education Systems That Support Quality Care
for Babies and Toddlers - Key Elements (2004)
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This brochure from the National Infant and Toddler Child Care
Initiative at ZERO TO THREE provides an overview of key system
elements and the characteristics that reflect how an early
care and education system can offer quality child care to
infants, toddlers and their families. 4 pages.
Establishing an Integrated and Coordinated System for Infants,
Toddlers, and their Families in Pennsylvania (2006)
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In the summer of 2005, the Pennsylvania Build Initiative focused
on its goal of creating a strategic plan to promote the development
of infants and toddlers. This report presents the culmination
of those efforts, provides the overall objectives of the Pennsylvania
Strategic Plan, and includes background information and data
gathering efforts that led to the development of a two-year
work plan for implementation starting January 2006. 30
pages.
Foundations: How States Can Plan and Fund Programs for
Babies and Toddlers
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Governing is about making difficult choices. When resources
are scarce, there is only one policy question – where
to allocate resources. The science is clear – the very
early years matter if we are to improve education and our
citizenry. If society is committed to having all children
enter school ready to learn, providing one year of preschool
to four-year-olds is too little, too late for many children.
This publication explores what babies and toddlers need to
thrive and take advantage of preschool, and offers strategies
for states to plan and structure funding for programs for
babies and toddlers.
Planning for Success: Mapping Goals, Services, and Outcomes
for Program Improvement
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This Birth to Five Best Practices Brief from the Ounce of
Prevention Fund describes the uses and benefits of developing
a logic model, and how the model can be used to continually
improve programs serving young children and their families.
The brief provides information on what a logic model is, the
key elements of a logic model, how to develop a logic model
or refine an existing model, and how the model can be used
to continually improve program services. 16 pages.
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Health
A High Performing System for Well Child Care: A Vision
for the Future (2006)
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Standardization of well-child services is intended to ensure
that families receive core services and key information. But
standardization also encourages a "one-size-fits-all"
approach that subjects many families to unnecessary office
visits. At the same time, many children at risk of developing
physical, developmental or behavioral problems fail to get
needed services. This Commonwealth Fund report presents a
vision of a high performing system of well-child care and
a guide for future policy and research efforts. 72 pages.
Maximizing the Use of EPSDT to Improve the Health and Development
of Young Children (2006)
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This Project THRIVE brief from the National Center for Children
in Poverty describes the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis
and Treatment (EPSDT) program of Medicaid with a focus on
young children ages birth to five. It offers tips for using
the program in state Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems
to improve early childhood health and development, state performance
rates on child health, and collaborative efforts with other
federal and state programs and services. 8 pages.
Quality of Preventive Heath Care for Young Children: Strategies
for Improvement (2005)
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Policymakers increasingly understand the importance of children’s
early years for promoting health, learning and school readiness.
Yet, not all parents receive the services needed to identify
developmental and behavioral issues in early childhood. This
Commonwealth Fund report reviews recommendations to improve
the quality of early childhood health care including national
standards, enhanced reimbursement, improved providers training,
and raising parents’ expectations of pediatric care.
27 pages.
Setting the Stage for Success: Implementation of Developmental
and Behavioral Screening and Surveillance in Primary Care
Practice – The North Carolina Assuring Better Child Health
and Development (ABCD) Project (2006)
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Early identification of children with developmental and behavioral
delays is important in primary care practice; well-child visits
provide an ideal opportunity to engage parents and perform
periodic screenings. In the North Carolina Assuring Better
Child Health and Development project, careful attention to
and training for office process has resulted in a significant
increase in screening rates. This article from Pediatrics
includes lessons learned and practical tools for implementation.
8 pages.
Snapshots: Incorporating Comprehensive Developmental Screening
into Programs and Services for Young Children (2006)
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Snapshots is a best-practice brief published by the
Ounce of Prevention Fund focused on incorporating comprehensive
developmental screening, including social emotional screening,
into programs and services for children birth to five. Snapshots
describes key best practice elements for a process of screening
and explores different methods for implementing developmental
screening in a variety of programs and services for very young
children, including child care, home visiting, and health
care settings. 16 pages.
Starting Strong: Strengthening Ohio’s Health Care
System for Children Ages Birth to Six (2006)
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Studies show that early investments in young children and
their families, including preventive health care, can make
a significant impact on child well-being and reduce the need
for more costly interventions. Ohio currently has several
programs that serve the health needs of children ages birth
to six and their families. This paper outlines options for
Ohio to build upon the current child health care system to
ensure that every Ohio child gets a fair and healthy start,
and enters school ready to succeed. 3 pages.
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – Opportunities
and Challenges for ECCS Initiatives (2005)
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The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) changes to Medicaid
affect health access and coverage for children from birth
to age five. State policymakers and family advocates working
to develop Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) and
those implementing ECCS plans will need to use their tools
and knowledge wisely to ensure a positive impact from the
DRA on young children. This National Center for Children in
Poverty Project THRIVE brief highlights opportunities and
cautions for states. 8 pages.
The Role of States in Improving Health and Health Care
for Young Children (2005)
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States are uniquely positioned to make significant improvements
in the quality of health and health care for young children
due to their roles as administrators of Medicaid and the State
Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as mental
health, public health and education programs. Quality improvement
initiatives are often hampered by a lack of coordination among
programs within a state, by the lack of adequate data and
information technology and the tendency of state officials
to focus on short-term policy projects. This Commonwealth
Fund issue brief focuses on promising solutions for states
addressing fiscal and administrative challenges. 8 pages.
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Infant-Toddler Specialists
Infant/Toddler Specialists – State Initiatives (2006)
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here
One strategy states are using to support child care providers
serving infants and toddlers is to provide training and technical
assistance through infant/toddler specialists. This summary
by the National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative provides
information from selected state initiatives about their infant/toddler
specialist programs. Among other resources, it includes information
about national organizations that support infant/toddler specialists.
10 pages.
Key Steps for Creating an Infant/Toddler Specialist Network
(2006)
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In this brief, the National Infant and Toddler Child Care
Initiative synthesizes information from conversations and
interviews with infant/toddler specialist network representatives
and identifies key steps for creating an infant/toddler specialist
network. 3 pages.
States with Networks of Infant/Toddler Specialists (2006)
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This summary, published by the Child Care Bureau, provides
descriptions of different state infant/toddler specialist
networks. 4 pages.
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Policy and Advocacy
A Place at the Policy Table for Infants and Toddlers (2006)
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Effective policies and adequate resources support and sustain
essential programs in order to meet the needs of babies, toddlers,
and their families. This document from the National Infant
and Toddler Child Care Initiative provides an overview of
policy goals and strategies that support good health, strong
families and positive early learning experiences. 6 pages.
Babies and Toddlers in the Policy Picture: A Self-Assessment
Checklist for States (2006)
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This self-assessment checklist from the ZERO TO THREE Policy
Center is based on research about effective policies and best
practices in states. The questions are intended to spark discussion
about the needs of infants, toddlers and their families and
to help states lay the foundation for building an early childhood
development system. 11 pages.
Infant and Toddler Policy Agenda (diagram)
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The ZERO TO THREE Policy Center diagram illustrates how policy
issues contribute to good child health, strong families and
positive early learning experiences. 1 page.
Invest in the Very Young (2002)
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In this summary paper from the Ounce of Prevention Fund, Dr.
James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, explores
the assumptions and foundations of current policies toward
skill formation. He examines the conventional wisdom articulated
by political leaders and draws on a body of recent scholarship
that challenges many of the premises that govern popular policy
discussions. 8 pages.
Prenatal Through Pre-K: Building Bright Futures (2006)
Download here
While there is a growing interest nationwide in early childhood
education in the years immediately preceding kindergarten,
the unique needs of infants and toddlers have been a public
policy afterthought. Supporting the optimal development of
the most vulnerable babies and toddlers must begin even before
birth. This ZERO TO THREE Policy Center brief identifies specific
ways that policymakers can include infant and toddler policies
in pre-kindergarten initiatives. 7 pages.
Ready for School – the Case for Including Babies and
Toddlers as we Expand Preschool Opportunities (2003)
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How do we ensure that children enter school eager to learn
and ready to succeed? Young children must be helped to develop
solid intellectual and emotional foundations, starting at
birth and even before. This report from the Ounce of Prevention
Fund argues that if policymakers fail to include babies and
toddlers as plans are made for universal preschool, in five
years our conversations about "school readiness"
will instead be about "preschool readiness." 16
pages.
Science, Policy, and the Young Developing Child –
Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do (2004)
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In this report published by the Ounce of Prevention Fund,
Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D. examines the current state of early
childhood, and explores ways to close the gap between what
we know and what we do as a society. 16 pages.
Starting Off Right: Promoting Child Development from Birth
in State Early Care and Education Initiatives (2006)
Full report – 52 pages.
Download here
Executive summary – 6 pages.
Download here
State early care and education policies that start at birth
and address the full range of children’s development
can potentially identify health and developmental issues,
link families to necessary supports, and assure that those
who care for infants and toddlers have the tools to stimulate
early learning and development and ease transitions into the
preschool and elementary years. This CLASP paper describes
state strategies to improve early care and education for infants
and toddlers and supports to their families.
Zero to Three Policy Center/Policy Network (fact sheet)
Download here
The ZERO TO THREE Policy Center is a research-based, non-partisan
program that brings the voice of babies and toddlers to public
policy to promote good health, strong families and positive
learning experiences. The ZERO TO THREE Policy Network is
a vehicle for professionals to use their knowledge and expertise
to impact public policy so that all babies have good health,
strong families and positive learning experiences. 1 page.
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Professional Workforce Development
Curricula/Teaching Approaches for Infant/Toddler Care and
Education (2006)
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Well, planned, evidence-based curriculum can contribute significantly
to positive outcomes for all children. This paper prepared
by the National Child Care Information Center provides information
about select research-based curricula/teaching approaches
for infant and toddler caregivers in child care centers and
family child care. All the curricula listed have been shown
to be effective in Head Start programs, approved by a state
agency for use in state funded programs, or evaluated in major
research projects. 5 pages.
Lessons Learned: The Bush Foundation Infant/Toddler Development
Program Turns 10 (2005)
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This report documents the 10-year effort of the Bush Foundation
to support the development of statewide training for infant/toddler
caregivers in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The
initiative uses a train-the-trainer model that prepares early
childhood professionals to provide training to infant/toddler
caregivers through intensive preparation in the Program for
Infant/Toddler Caregivers a nationally prominent, relationship-based
approach to infant/toddler care. 32 pages.
Preparing the workforce: early childhood teacher preparation
at 2- and 4-year institutions of higher education (2001)
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Little is known about the context, content and needs of programs
providing education for individuals working with young children.
This paper, published in early Childhood Research Quarterly,
presents data from a nationally representative survey of chairs/directors
of early childhood teacher preparation programs at 2- and
4-year Institutions of Higher education. Findings include
faculty characteristics, course and practica requirements,
and challenges facing programs.
Preservice Qualifications for Child Care Center Staff Working
with Infants and Toddlers (2006)
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State child care licensing regulations provide a baseline
of protection for the health and safety of children in out-of-home
care. Licensing rules seek to prevent various forms of harm
to children and represent the required level of quality in
each state. This summary from the National Child Care Information
Center provides excerpts from child care licensing regulations
in 16 states that include specialized preservice qualifications
for center-based staff that work with infants and/or toddlers.
10 pages.
State Infant and Toddler Credentials (2006)
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A credential is an important component of a comprehensive
professional development system; it certifies that an individual
has met a defined set of requirements set forth by the grantor
of the credential, usually related to skills and knowledge
that may include demonstrations of competence. This summary
from the National Child Care Information Center includes information
about a sample of states with an infant and toddler credential
and overview of the states providing specialized training
for infant and toddler teachers. Also included is information
about national credentials and research that evaluates the
impact of professional development for infant/toddler care
providers. 12 pages.
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Social/Emotional Development of Infants
and Toddlers
Helping Young Children Succeed: Strategies to Promote Early
Childhood Social and Emotional Development (2005)
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This brief from the National Conference of State Legislatures
defines early childhood social-emotional development, describes
what can happen when children face emotional and behavioral
problems, and outlines what actions can be taken at the state
level to support healthy social-emotional development in babies
and young children. It also highlights state and community
efforts to improve early childhood social and emotional development
through promotion, prevention and treatment approaches. 14
pages.
Mental Health Consultation in Child Care and Early Childhood
Settings: Opportunities to Expand the System of Care for Children
with Emotional and Behavioral Challenges in Florida (2006)
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This paper from the Florida State University Center for Prevention
and Early Intervention Policy compares five different methods
of providing mental health consultation in child care settings.
It profiles exemplary programs in Vermont, San Francisco and
Ohio. 36 pages.
Resources to Promote Social and Emotional Health and School
Readiness in Young Children and Families – A Community
Guide (2005)
Full text – 72 pages.
Download here
Summary – 10 pages.
Download here
This National Center for Children in Poverty guide provides
resources and strategies that families, child care providers,
teachers, and others can use to help children develop the
social and emotional skills they need to succeed in school.
Some of the resources and strategies focus on babies and toddlers
while others focus on young children facing especially harsh
early circumstances. All have been used in low-income communities
and work best if they are embedded in a larger community effort
to promote resilience and build on the strengths that exist
in families and communities.
State and Local Infant and Toddler Mental Health and Child
Care Initiatives (2006)
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As states address the mental health needs of their citizens,
they increasingly seek to develop systems of care that are
comprehensive, coordinated, and attentive to the needs of
their youngest citizens. This document by the National Child
Care Information Center provides a sample of initiatives in
selected states and localities to collaboratively address
the mental health needs of infants and toddlers in child care
and their families. It also includes a list of publications
with information about multi-state and local initiatives and
additional resources related to mental health. 6 pages.
State Approaches to Promoting Young Children’s Healthy
Mental Development (2005)
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The National Academy for State Health Policy surveyed Medicaid,
maternal and child health, and children’s mental health
agencies to gather information on how states are addressing
the healthy mental development of children ages birth to three.
This report from the Commonwealth Fund describes key findings
of the survey and illustrates many opportunities for improving
the systems of care for young children’s social and emotional
development. 144 pages.
Toward the ABCs – Building a Healthy Social and Emotional
Foundation for Learning and Living (2001)
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This report from the Ounce of Prevention Fund is aimed at
strengthening public understanding of the importance of healthy
social and emotional development in the first few years of
life and raising awareness of the characteristics of young
children experiencing behavioral difficulties. The publication
identifies promotion, preventions, and targeted intervention
strategies for addressing the unique mental health needs of
children under five and also provides important policy recommendations.
11 pages.
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Vulnerable Children
Court Teams for Maltreated Infants and Toddlers (2006)
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Infants and toddlers are highly vulnerable to the affects
of maltreatment and infants are the fastest growing category
of children entering the foster care system in the United
States. Juvenile and Family Court Judges are responsible for
the well-being of the children in the courts and can be powerful
agents for change. This brief from the ZERO TO THREE Policy
Center describes a successful approach involving the use of
multidisciplinary court teams in the Miami-Dade Juvenile Courts.
Three years of data show substantial gains in improving parental
sensitivity, child and parent interaction, and behavioral
and emotional parental and child responsiveness. 3 pages.
Early Head Start Participants, Programs, Families and Staff
in 2005 (2006)
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This CLASP fact sheet reviews the 2005 Program Information
Reports data for the Early Head Start program, which serves
children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2005, Early Head
Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group
of low-income children and families, most of which included
at least one working parent. Most children received medical,
dental, and disability screenings and follow-up services when
necessary. Families also accessed services at high rates;
80 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services.
2 pages.
From the Beginning: Early Head Start Children, Families,
Staff and Programs in 2004 (2006)
Download here
This CLASP policy brief profiles the Early Head Start program
– which serves low-income children under age 3, pregnant
women, and their families, with comprehensive early education
and support services – using the latest data from the
Program Information Reports that all Head Start grantees must
submit to the U.S. Department of Health. Major changes in
2004 included more children with access to a continuous source
of dental care and fewer families receiving TANF benefits.
The proportion of home visitors and teachers with degrees
also increased, although teacher salaries remained stagnant.
8 pages.
Helping the Most Vulnerable Infants, Toddlers, and Their
Families (2006)
Full report – 38 pages.
Download here
Summary – 8 pages.
Download here
Science tells us that all low-income babies, toddlers, and
families benefit from child development and family support
programs like Early Head Start. But for babies, toddlers,
and parents who face multiple risk factors even these programs
may not be enough. This issue brief from the National Center
for Children in Poverty highlights 10 program and community
strategies that can help these most vulnerable families and
promote early school success.
Preliminary Findings from the Early Head Start Prekindergarten
Followup (2006)
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When tasked with designing Early Head Start, the Department
of Health and Human Services’ (USDHHS) Advisory Committee
on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers envisioned
the continuation of high quality services after families completed
the infant and toddler program. This vision, as well as research
on continuity of early childhood services, guided the analyses
of the prekindergarten followup of the Early Head Start Research
and Evaluation Project. This report from the Administration
for Children and Families – U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services reports preliminary research findings.
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General Resources
A Champion for Babies: An Interview with Joan Lombardi
(2001)
Download here
This Zero to Three article features an interview with
Joan Lombardi, one of the nation’s leading experts on
early childhood and school age policy issues. The interview
focuses on the Better Baby Campaign, a national initiative
that encouraged community and state leaders, policy makers,
parents and professionals who work with young children to
take concrete steps to improve the early care of infants and
toddlers. 5 pages.
Educare – A Catalyst for Change (2005)
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The Ounce of Prevention Fund opened its Educare Center on
Chicago’s south side in February 2000 to address the
complicated challenge of ensuring that children at risk of
school failure enter kindergarten engaged, healthy, eager
to learn, and ready to succeed. 12 pages.
Latino Baby Agenda Advisory Committee
www.nclr.org
The Latino Baby Agenda Advisory Committee was created to examine
the needs of Hispanic children under the age of three. The
committee made up of community leaders, advocates and experts
in early childhood health and education, works with the National
Council of La Raza to develop strategies that promote the
healthy development of Hispanic babies and toddlers. Go to
NCLR’s website for updates.
National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO
TO THREE
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/itcc
The website of the National Infant and Toddler Child Care
Initiative at ZERO TO THREE provides comprehensive information
about state infant/toddler systems work and existing infant
and toddler child care initiatives. The site also includes
fact sheets, technical assistance papers, issue briefs and
presentations about building early care and education systems
that support quality care for babies and toddlers.
National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO
TO THREE – fact sheet
Download here
The National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO
TO THREE is a project of the Child Care Bureau, Administration
for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human
Services. The initiative works collaboratively with Child
Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administrators with other
partners in their efforts to move forward system initiatives
to improve the quality and supply of infant and toddler child
care. This fact sheet describes the vision and mission of
the initiative and goals for Phases One and Two. 2 pages.
National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative State
Information
http://www.nccic.org/itcc/states/index.htm
This section of the National Infant and Toddler Child Care
Initiative website provides state and territory profiles with
demographic information about children birth to three and
their families, as well as the child care system that serves
them. Users access the profiles by clicking on the map.
Resource Toolkit for Programs Serving Infants, Toddlers
and Their Families: Implementing a Research-Based Program
Model (2006)
Download here
The Illinois Early Learning Council’s Birth to Three
Program Quality Workgroup prepared this resource toolkit to
help local programs make informed decisions about implementing
a research-based program model. The Toolkit provides in-depth
information on a variety of models, references to additional
materials, resources for becoming affiliated with these models,
and crosswalks showing how the models map to the current Illinois
State Board of Education’s Birth to Three Program Standards.
14 pages.
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