April 2016 | ISSUE 19
This Early Childhood-LINC newsletter connects communities across the country as they build and strengthen systems to help children and families thrive. Click the box below and enter your email address in the Stay Informed box to sign up. 
 
        

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COMMUNITY NEWS
New EC-LINC Release: 
Working Toward Well-Being: Community Approaches to Toxic Stress

With increased scientific understanding and awareness of the concept of toxic stress, community leaders are searching for ways to prevent and respond to toxic stress in the lives of young children and their families as part of their broader efforts to achieve healthy development and well-being for all children. A new issue brief distills the experience and recommendations of leaders from six communities who were convened by CSSP in the Early Childhood-LINC Learning Lab on Community Approaches to Toxic Stress.

Working Toward Well-Being: Community Approaches to Toxic Stress provides: 

  • A definition of toxic stress from a community perspective
  • A framework for a comprehensive community approach to toxic stress, nested within the broader context of working toward healthy development and well-being
  • Practical examples of how Early Childhood-LINC network communities are taking action
  • Recommendations for next steps to promote and further develop comprehensive approaches to toxic stress in communities across the country
If you'd like to learn more about the framework of community approaches to toxic stress, join the monthly Strengthening Families networking webinar on Thursday, May 12, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET.
Register here, or stay tuned for information about a future webinar focused on how cities and counties can use the framework to improve the well-being of their youngest residents. 

Orange County Receives Pay for Success Technical Assistance

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County, California (CFCOC) is part of the second cohort of organizations to receive technical assistance from the Institute for Child Success through its Pay for Success grant from the Social Innovation Fund. This technical assistance will help jurisdictions move toward implementing Pay for Success financing to improve outcomes for young children. In Orange County, CFCOC (an Early Childhood-LINC member community) will work to improve child welfare outcomes through its innovative Neighborhood Resource Network.
NATIONAL NEWS
AAP Report: Poverty and Child Health in the United States
In the April 2016 issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement on poverty and child health in the United States. They write, "With an awareness and understanding of the effects of poverty on children, pediatricians and other pediatric health practitioners in a family-centered medical home can assess the financial stability of families, link families to resources, and coordinate care with community partners."

This policy statement can support system-builders as they build collaborations across sectors to promote healthy child development. As the AAP notes, "Programs that help poor families and children take many forms and often involve stakeholders from multiple communities, including governmental, private non-profit, faith-based, business, and other philanthropic organizations."

RESOURCES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM-BUILDING:
Research to Guide Policy & Practice
New Report
Research on Infant Development
 
Developmental Foundations of School Readiness for Infants and Toddlers: A Research to Practice Report, from the federal Administration on Children and Families, highlights research in developmental domains that are foundational for later school readiness and success. It underscores the need for coordination across a variety of systems, programs and informal supports to improve outcomes for young children. 
New Report
Assessing Learning, Development and Well-being

The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes has released Measuring Child Outcomes in the Early Years, which provides information to inform decision-making regarding the assessment of young children's learning, development and well-being for state and national assessments designed to influence early childhood education policy and practice.

EXPLORE MORE RESOURCES                        
    • For systems-builders: This video from the Center for the Study of Social Policy highlights how a Promise Neighborhood in eastern Berea, KY, is building partnerships and systems to ensure that every child is healthy, ready for school, lives in a safe community and has access to excellent schools and educational opportunities.
       
    • For providers: The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers an Index to Resources in Spanish. This comprehensive list translates common education-related English terms, acronyms and phrases that Spanish-speaking families may need to know and understand as they seek services and supports.
       
    • For parents: ZERO TO THREE's Parenting Resources has released the final three videos in the Early Math series. These videos look at the development of Measurement, Patterning and Addition/Subtraction skills from birth to five. Each video is paired with a downloadable parent handout. The videos and handouts are available in Spanish as well.
       
    • For researchers: Building Core Capabilities for Life from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University combines research from the biological and behavioral sciences with practical, on-the-ground knowledge from working with adults and families to provide effective solutions for helping individuals develop more effective skills for parenting and the workplace.
       
    • For policymakers: A new paper from the Economic Policy Institute, "It's time for an ambitious national investment in America's children," explores four ways that investing in early childhood care and education would provide widespread and significant societal return.
 
Early Childhood-LINC is a learning and innovation network developed by and for communities. Our mission is to support families and improve results for young children in communities across the country with a focus on accelerating the development of effective, integrated, local early childhood systems. We are currently made up of nine member communities across the country. Learn more about the innovative work of our communities.