Center Happenings
Protecting Children and Caregivers During Extreme Heat
Heat waves are occurring with greater frequency and lasting longer than ever before, shaping children’s environments—and, therefore, their development—in new ways.
Our Chief Science Officer, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, recently joined the BUILD Initiative for a discussion on how extreme heat affects early childhood development and health, and how we can prevent or minimize the effects of extreme heat on children. Dr. Burghardt appeared alongside three other panelists, who also shared strategies and perspectives as parents, urban planners, and policymakers.
Discussing Housing Instability and the Impact on Children’s Health and Well-Being
This spring, we were excited to bring together an incredible group to discuss the importance of safe, stable housing for early childhood development and lifelong health. The gathering, Housing Instability and Homelessness in the Early Years: A Learning Session, provided early childhood and housing experts with an opportunity to discuss pressing questions, share solutions, and build stronger connections…
The discussion featured many valuable perspectives, including a presentation from Dr. Natalie Slopen, a member of our Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment, whose recent publication on this topic was featured in JAMA Pediatrics. Among other presentations, SchoolHouse Connection shared highlights of their new report on infant and toddler homelessness in the US. The report found a 23% increase in the number of infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness over the past two years—an estimated 82,000 additional young children—and identified solutions within our reach. We also heard from Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) about the direct experiences of families navigating housing instability. We will be collaborating with partners to develop next steps and to hold a focus on this issue.
Safe, healthy housing is just one of a wide range of conditions in a child’s developmental environment that shapes their developing brain and biological systems. Learn more in our Guide to Developmental Environmentsand infographic, Place Matters: What Surrounds Us Shapes Us.
Connecting Science + Community
The Center’s Founding Director, Jack Shonkoff, MD, has launched a new portfolio of work: Connecting Science and Community: Expanding the Early Childhood Ecosystem to Achieve Greater Impacts. This initiative is designed to catalyze a broader mindset for early childhood investment, including increased attention to the communities where children and the adults who care for them live.
Protecting Young Children During Periods of Extreme Heat
Corey Zimmerman, EdM, Deputy Director and Chief Engagement and Partnerships Officer, and Joan Lombardi, PhD, discuss the actions needed to protect young children from extreme heat.
A Healthy Childhood in a Changing Climate | Askwith Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Askwith Education Forum brought together early childhood & health experts in February 2024—including the Center’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Lindsey Burghardt, and education & public health advocate, Chelsea Clinton—for a conversation on the impacts of environmental change on early childhood development.
Subscribe for Updates
Be the first to learn about our latest happenings, news, and new resources.
"*" indicates required fields