Sharing Resources II

Zero to Three, 2016

As I explored the Zero to Three website I discovered much information that will help me stay abreast issues and trends in early childhood. Zero-Three includes information and webinars about public policies regarding infant and toddler issues at the federal, state, and community levels. Their work is informed by the science of early childhood development and guided by our infant and toddler policy agenda—good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences. With the needs of the whole child in mind, they are working to build comprehensive services that allow families with infants and toddlers to thrive. The documents in this section orient you to ZERO TO THREE’s overall policy agenda and other comprehensive policy resources, including the infant-toddler policy and systems framework and a place to get started. The tool kit includes The tool-kit includes the  Early Experiences Matter Policy Guide which is a set of tools for taking action and improving public policies that impact the lives of infants, toddlers, and their families. All of the materials in the toolkit are accessible online, and they encourage us to use them in our work and disseminate them widely. The Early Experiences Matter Policy Guide offers you a wealth of policy options and strategies to use in your efforts to affect policy change for infants, toddlers, and their families. It includes mini policy briefs, practical tools, in-depth policy papers, and more.

I also explored the webinar section and found a webinar on Supporting Babies Through QRIS: A Self-Assessment Tool for U.S. States & Other Jurisdictions, which struck my interest because my center is presently undergoing Georgia’s quality rating process. Supporting Babies Through QRIS is a series of documents developed by ZERO TO THREE’s Policy Center to help ensure that Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are supporting the unique developmental needs of infants and toddlers. The documents present a national review of states’ and jurisdictions’ QRIS that have been implemented statewide and illustrates some examples of QRIS standards and supports that have been included across the nation to help programs promote young children’s development and learning. A recording of the webinar is included.

This current issue of Zero to Three journal offers highlights from the ZERO TO THREE National Training Institute (NTI), held in Seattle, WA, December 2-4, 2015:  Connecting Science, Policy, and Practice: ZERO TO THREE’s National Training Institute, 2015 and includes the latest research about brain functioning during the first 3 years of life and the important role of early social interactions for later school readiness and lifelong learning. It discusses how toxic stress caused by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is having an impact on the health and development of children; a summary of what has been learned about early development during the past 15 years; and examples of how communities are using federal funding opportunities and partnerships to build more coordinated, effective early childhood systems.

It is evident that babies, toddlers, and families are facing many of the same challenges across our nation and need support from early childhood professionals such as low wages, poverty, physical and mental health issues, and lack of quality childcare.  We are in need of a comprehensive system of supports for children and families that will promote health, strengthen families, and positive learning experiences. The voices from the fields of science, economists, and politicians are critical in achieving comprehensive services that will allow families with infants and toddlers to thrive. It is important to the future of our world.

Reference

Zero-Three. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/