nebraska children: baby brains webinar
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Presentation about the science behind early childhood brain development and how educators, parents and policy makers in Nebraska can ensure that every child gets off to the best possible start in life.TRANSCRIPT
Baby BrainsHow Healthy Brain Development in the First Years Lays the Foundation for All Future Learning
Meet Amy• Associate Vice President of
Early Childhood Programs at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
• Administers grants and provides technical assistance for the statewide Sixpence Early Learning program
• Works with 25 grant communities in Nebraska, serving nearly 700 children
• History with Nebraska Department of Education focusing on kindergarten readiness
High-quality early childhood & parent education that:
• Meets the unique developmental needs of very young children
• Supports parents as their child’s first and most important teacher
The difference is:• Public-private funding
partnership• High-quality educators,
curricula and environments• Intentional family
engagement and education• Outcome accountability
through ongoing measurement
SingASongOfSixpence.org
Sixpence Children’s OutcomesVast majority of children met or exceeded individual child outcomes with significant gains in vocabulary and social-emotional skills
86%Language/Vocabulary
95%Social-Emotional
96%Cognition
97%Fine Motor
85%Literacy
78%Mathematics
Sixpence Parent Outcomes
100%Received consistent
prenatal care (compared to 75% statewide)
96%Were using proper
car seats
88%Brought children to well-
child checkups
94%Had established a
medical home
97%Had their children
immunized
SIGNIFICANT GAINS
In building relationships, promoting learning and
supporting confidence in their children.
Sixpence Program Outcomes
CENTER-BASED PROGRAMS scored in the highest range on the Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (ITERS-R) or the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS scored4.55 out of 5 on Parent-Child Engagement and 4.15 out of 5 on Home Visit Instruction on the Home Visit Rating Scales-A (HoVRS-A).
Today’s presentation• Early experiences influence brain
development
• Effects of adverse childhood experiences
• Preventing & mitigating toxic stress
• What can we do?
Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
(in years)
Source: Parenting
Stages of brain development in children
Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Significant adversity impairs brain development
Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Adverse Childhood Experiences:
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ACE Study (2012)
Adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress affect us all.
• Ineffective learning environments
• Lower high-school graduation rate
• More unintended pregnancies
• Higher crime rate
• More spent on public assistance programs, special
education
and health care
• Lower workforce viability
• Less robust economy
What can we do about it?
Healthy brain development
• Relationships
• Respect
• Repetition
• Routines
• Responsive Interactions
MOST IMPORTANT: Being a constant presence to provide security so the child feels safe to explore and grow.
Source: Zero To Three
Supporting parents as first and most important teachers
Informal supports• Family• Friends• Neighbors• Babysitters
Formal supports• Proactive home visitation• High-quality early childhood education• Parenting classes• Community-based socialization
opportunities• Access to health services, including
mental health
Rooted in Relationships
Parents Interacting with Infants (PIWI)
Circle of Security
Resources• First Five Nebraska
• Center for Children, Families and the Law
• NET State of Education in Nebraska
• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
• Center for Social Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (CSEFEL)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Questions?
Amy Bornemeier, Associate Vice President of Early Childhood Programs
www.SingASongOfSixpence.org
www.NebraskaChildren.org
www.facebook.com/NebraskaChildren
Twitter: @NE_Children