The Center’s current portfolio of work includes initiatives, activities, and projects that cross the traditional domains of research and public engagement. These efforts grow out of our belief that healthy child development is the foundation of economic prosperity, responsible citizenship, strong communities, and a just society, and that we must advance that vision by leveraging science to enhance the well-being and life outcomes of children, particularly those that are vulnerable, in the United States and throughout the world.
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
The Council is the Center’s flagship initiative on translating science into policy. This unique, multi-disciplinary, multi-university group of scientists and scholars synthesizes and communicates the science of early childhood and early brain development in order to inform public discourse and policy making. More >
National Forum on Early Childhood Program Evaluation
The Forum, a direct outgrowth of the Council, assesses and interprets research evidence on program effectiveness and a range of interventions targeting early childhood, as well as data on broader health and family support services, in order to inform policymaking and practice. More >
State Policy Partnership
A central vehicle for strengthening the Center’s capacity to catalyze science-driven, early childhood policies and practices across the United States is our State Policy Partnership with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). More >
Interdisciplinary Research Seminar on Disparities
The Interdisciplinary Research Seminar on Disparities (IRSD) was created to catalyze collaborative investigations across disciplines among Harvard University faculty members. More >
Child Mental Health Network
Involving a small group of Harvard faculty members, this initiative focuses on improving mental health services for children, both in terms of clinical practice and public policy. More >
Community-Based Laboratories
A series of community-based laboratories will develop, test, evaluate, and refine innovative intervention strategies to achieve enhanced outcomes for disadvantaged children and their families. More >
Global Children's Initiative
Beginning with a focused interest in evidence-based policies and practices affecting vulnerable children and their families worldwide, the Center aims to develop a portfolio of international projects that adds value to the work of others in the domains of child health and development. More >
