Publications
Featured Publications
Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, and the Childhood Roots of Health Disparities: Building a New Framework for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
(JAMA, June 3, 2009)
This new paper published in the June 3, 2009, issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association says that the origins of many adult diseases can be traced to negative experiences early in life, so confronting the causes of adversity before and shortly after birth may be a promising way to improve adult health and reduce premature deaths. The article was co-authored by the Center's founding director, Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., and Council members W. Thomas Boyce, M.D., College for Interdisciplinary Studies, University of British Columbia, and Bruce McEwen, Ph.D., Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University.
Summary of Essential Findings
Q&A
Press release
Visit JAMA website to access full article
Council Working Paper #6: Mental Health Problems in Early Childhood Can Impair Learning and Behavior for Life
The sixth Working Paper from the
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child summarizes recent evidence on the impact of significant mental health problems in young children and the potentially serious consequences for early learning, social competence, and lifelong health. More
Council Working Paper #6: Mental Health Problems in Early Childhood Can Impair Learning and Behavior for Life
The sixth Working Paper from the
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child summarizes recent evidence on the impact of significant mental health problems in young children and the potentially serious consequences for early learning, social competence, and lifelong health. More
Forum Working Paper #1: Workforce Development, Welfare Reform, and Child Well-Being
The Forum's first Working Paper summarizes recent evidence from a series of evaluations of family self-sufficiency programs. These studies show that policies can be successful in achieving both positive economic benefits for parents (increased employment, for example) and positive educational effects on their children. More
A Science-Based Framework for Early Childhood Policy
A ground-breaking framework for using evidence to improve outcomes in learning, behavior, and health for vulnerable children, co-authored by the members of the National Forum on Early Childhood Program Evaluation and the National Scientic Council on the Developing Child. Combining knowledge from neuroscience, behavioral and developmental science, economics, and 40 years of early childhood program evaluation, the authors provide an informed, nonpartisan, pragmatic framework to guide policymakers toward science-based policies that improve the lives of young children and benefit society as a whole.
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Summary of Essential Findings
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Press Release
NCSL PowerPoint Presentation, Aug. 7, 2007 (PDF)
NCSL Press Conference Audio Recording, Aug. 6, 2007 (46:13, 2.8MB)
Summary of report in NGA Center for Best Practices “Bright Futures” Newsletter
The Science of Early Childhood Development: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do
This 2007 publication from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child offers a concise, clear overview of the science of early childhood and brain development as it relates to policies and programs that could make a significant difference in the lives of children—and all of society. Includes discussion of seven core concepts of development and their implications for policy and practice.
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InBrief: A series of brief summaries of the scientific presentations at the National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy
InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development
This brief addresses basic concepts of early childhood development, established over decades of neuroscience and behavioral research, which help illustrate why child development—particularly from birth to five years—is a foundation for a prosperous and sustainable society.
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InBrief: The Impact of Early Adversity on Children's Development
This brief outlines basic concepts from the research on the biology of stress which show that major adversity can weaken developing brain architecture and permanently set the body's stress response system on high alert. Science also shows that providing stable, responsive environments for children in the earliest years of life can prevent or reverse these conditions, with lifelong consequences for learning, behavior, and health.
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InBrief: Early Childhood Program Effectiveness
This brief outlines basic concepts from four decades of program evaluation research which help explain how society can ensure that children have a solid foundation for a productive future by creating and implementing effective early childhood programs and policies.
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The Council's series of publications serves its primary goal of bringing credible and accurate knowledge to bear on public decision-making that affects the lives of young children by marrying the science of early childhood and brain development with state-of-the-art communications research designed to effectively translate that knowledge for non-scientific audiences. |
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The Forum's publications include evaluation briefs on critical issues for policymakers and civic leaders, peer-reviewed scientific papers, a new series of working papers, as well as the Early Childhood Program Evaluations: A Decision-Maker’s Guide, which helps prepare decision-makers to be better consumers of evaluation information. |
