Learning Roundtable #3: Critical Components Framework for Infant and Toddler Development and Well-Being in NJ

Background:

The National Institute for Early Education Research has identified a framework that outlines critical components for enhancing infant and toddler development and well-being. This framework is grounded in developmental theory and evaluation of effective practices/initiatives, providing a roadmap for identifying effective programmatic goals and building on the Grow New Jersey Kids (GNJK) quality rating and improvement system.
What supports the healthy development and well-being of our youngest learners? Here’s some of what we know:

• The science of early childhood reveals that healthy development in the earliest years provides the building blocks for future success, including educational achievement, economic productivity, and lifelong physical and mental health.
• Experiences during the first three years have lifelong impacts and require special attention from public policies.
• Renown longitudinal studies of early interventions collectively find positive educational and employment effects for children and their families. Together, these research studies offer evidence that early interventions can alter children’s future experiences; however, benefits are not always sustained, creating difficulties to providing clear, specific policy guidance.
• Although the research base is limited, benefits of high-quality initiatives have been shown in center-based, home-based, and dual generation programs.
• Longer hours per week in lower quality settings have shown negative effects on young children. Most infant and toddler out-of-home care has been found to be of lower quality and unlikely to boost optimal learning and well-being.

Goal(s):

• To learn about the Critical Components Framework for Infant Toddler Development and Well-Being in New Jersey.
• To provide feedback and commentary to the authors of the proposed framework through thoughtful discussion.
• To consider how the framework might inform the work of the First 1,000 Days Policy Coalition.

Agenda:

• Welcome/opening remarks (8 minutes)
• Review of agenda and goals (2 minutes)
• Introduction of speaker (2 minutes)
• Presentation by Dr. Ellen Frede (25 minutes)
• Q&A and discussion (20 minutes)
• Closing and next steps (3 minutes)

Speakers:

• Dr. Ellen Frede, Senior Co-Director at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)
• Dr. Allison Friedman-Krauss, Senior Co-Director at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)