The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has established a collaborative effort with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the National Conference of State Legislatures to bring the science of early childhood development to key leaders in the legislative and executive branches in all 50 states. A major goal of the partnership with these two highly respected, non-partisan organizations is to build the leadership capacity of state policymakers to design and implement successful birth-to-five policies and practices that enhance the odds of success for vulnerable children and their families. Building on this relationship, the Center is pursuing a 50-state approach to knowledge dissemination and a targeted approach to direct consultation and technical assistance in a subset of states.
Science & Policy
The Center’s core mission is driven by the belief that a remarkable explosion of new knowledge about the developing brain and the human genome, linked to advances in the behavioral and social sciences, offers current policymakers and civic leaders exceptional opportunities that did not exist a decade ago. More >
National Symposium on Early Childhood Science & Policy Summary DVD
These videos, filmed at the Symposium in June 2008, include highlights of the proceedings as well as interviews with Symposium presenters. Two versions of the program are available for viewing: the 6-minute executive summary (shown above) and the 4-part, full-length, 17-minute program.
National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy
In June 2008, the partnership convened a two-day National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy, which included presentations from members of the Council, Forum, and Harvard faculty on early childhood development and its underlying neurobiology, as well as lessons learned from four decades of program evaluation and policy-related research. The audience comprised 14 state delegations representing leadership from the legislative and executive branches as well as the private sector. More >
State-Based Work
Following a competitive application process, the Center is working with six states, offering technical assistance in a variety of forms as they strive to implement science-based reforms in policy and practice. More >
Major support for the State Policy Partnership has been provided by:
The Birth to Five Policy Alliance
The Buffett Early Childhood Fund
