www.zerotothree.org
I chose to explore the Public Policy section of the website.
I found that Zero to Three has links regarding individual state's policies on
infant and toddler welfare and initiatives. It also outlines information about
the Early Learning Challenge Grant that is intended to be used to help states
better serve infants and toddlers. Zero to Three also has a link to state by
state information about state strategies on improving infant and early
childhood mental health. They provide a policy toolkit, aimed at helping
parents, child care providers, policymakers and anyone interested in early
childhood advocate for quality early childhood programs and outline the
benefits of providing children with a strong start.
Zero to Three's e-newsletter, From Baby to Big Kid is geared
toward parents of young children and provides information specific to your child's
age and development. Unfortunately, every link in the e-newsletter leads to the
same developmental chart and how you can support your child's development
across all developmental domains.
Zero to three supports raising parent's awareness of quality
programs and accessibility to services by supporting the Maternal, Infant, and
Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and other similar home visiting programs
that support families dealing with language barriers, poverty, geographic or social
isolation, stress, or other issue that prevents parents from supporting their
child's early development. Home visiting programs can tailor services to meet
the needs of the individual family in a culturally appropriate and responsive
manner. Additionally, they support the development of a comprehensive policy
framework designed to promote good health, strong families, and positive learning
experiences for children. They promote the development of accessible, high
quality, culturally responsive and inclusive services supported by an
infrastructure that defines and coordinates leadership, recruits and engages
stakeholders, finances strategically, enhances and aligns standards, creates
and supports improvement and ensures accountability, therefore creating a
comprehensive early childhood system.
Zero to Three promotes parental awareness of excellence in
early care and education by providing information about things to look for when
visiting potential child care settings for your child. Parents are encouraged
to observe the way staff members interact with children in the program, such as
how much attention children receive, whether their diaper changes are done
silently or are full of conversation, and whether children seem to feel
nurtured. Parents are encouraged to ask about staff education regarding child
development and early childhood education. Parents are also encouraged to
observe for how caregivers handle discipline and ensure that this and other
child rearing philosophies match your own. These and other included tips apply
to child care centers or family care homes. Zero to three also provides a
wealth of information geared toward parents about supporting their child's
early development that is tailored to the child's age group.
Birth to Three addresses multiple issues and trends in early
childhood, including issues faced by parents and caregivers. This includes
early development, mental health, nutrition, play, promoting healthy
social-emotional development, brain development, challenging behaviors, the
importance of play, issues with sleep, and challenges with temperament and
associated behaviors. Resources are included for parents and grandparents as
well, in English or Spanish. Resources also address issues such as setting
limits, understanding how traumatic experiences affect very young children, helping
children through divorce or separation and understanding fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder. Birth to Three also provides education about child abuse and neglect,
and how to prevent child abuse or neglect in very young children because they
account for over three fourths of child maltreatment fatalities, and hold the
greatest risk for long term damage but the greatest potential for successful
intervention. Resources are also available to help court teams raise awareness
about the negative impact of abuse and neglect on very young children and how
to change systems to improve outcomes for very young children. Resources are
provided on how to train professionals, provide resources, and encourage
collaboration between existing service providers, creating a comprehensive
support system for the child and family.
Wow! What great information! It's awesome they include state by state information and their parental awareness! It sounds like a great resources for many different topics. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to know that the Zero to Three has a link hat include state by state on improving infant and early childhood mental health. Thanks for sharing the information this is a must site to real on.
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