Early Care
and Education
Beginning
even before birth, how children are nurtured, the environments
in which they live, and how they are socialized have a significant
impact on how they develop, adapt to the world around them, and
are prepared for learning when they enter school.
Babies
learn about the world and their place in it from their families.
A wealth of research points to the experiences that children need
to get a good start in life. Much of that research has focused
on how parent-child relationships develop, why they are central
to the long term health and well being of children, and what parents
need in order to care well for their children. Some of the most
important research in this field has been conducted at the University
of Minnesota and continues today.
Beyond
parent-child relationships, there are many other facets to early
care and education, each of which may have significant influence
on children's development: prenatal care and nutrition, child
care, preschool education, and the economic conditions and cultures
of communities in which children grow and learn.
Public
and private policies affect all of these areas, making a difference
in how families and society are able to support and promote the
optimal development of children.
Summary
of Research
From Neurons
To Neighborhoods
Authoritative yet accessible, From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents the evidence about "brain wiring" and how kids learn to speak, think, and regulate their behavior. It examines the effect of the climate-family, child care, community-within which the child grows. It was produced by the National Academy of Sciences. University of Minnesota faculty Megan Gunnar and former faculty member Charles Nelson were on the team of authors of the report, and faculty member Richard Weinberg was a reviewer.
Policy
Brief
Executive
Summary
Full
Report
University
of Minnesota Resources For Early Care and Education
Children,
Youth and Family Consortium
"Questions
policymakers must ask to ensure all kids get a chance
to become masters of literacy"
An
article by Dr. Marti Erickson published in the Consortium’s
Seeds of Promise Report on Early Literacy and Language.
"Child-Adult
Attachment: A Lens For Viewing Decisions That Affect Children
And Families"
This
report, written for national policymakers by Dr. Marti
Erickson and Lyn Glenn, uses attachment theory and research
as a lens for considering policy decisions.
College
of Education and Human Development
Early
Literacy Initiative
The
Early Literacy Initiative evolved from a long-standing
focus on early emergent literacy and language development,
early childhood research, and children's literature at
the University of Minnesota. Reading is the foundation
for much of learning and research shows early literacy
and sustained attention to literacy instruction is critical
to success in school. The University of Minnesota
has a commitment to apply the expertise at the University
to community interests and problems; consequently, an
outreach effort focused on literacy was a natural extension
of existing interests.
Developing
a Minnesota Reading Initiative to Promote Early Literacy
By
Marika Ginsburg-Block and Ann M. Casey. A paper in a larger
"Just In Time Research: Building Resilient Communities"
report prepared by the University of Minnesota Extension
Service.
Home
and Community Factors that PromoteEarly Literacy Development
for Preschool-Aged Children
By
Scott R. McConnell and Holly L.S. Rabe. A paper in a larger
"Just In Time Research: Children, Youth and Families"
report prepared by the University of Minnesota Extension
Service.
CEHD:
Center for Early Education and Development
ceed@umn.edu,
612-624-5780
Measuring
Up: What is the Quality of Child Care in Minnesota?
Four Child Care Resource and Referral programs in Minnesota
and faculty from the University of Minnesota recently
asked themselves this question. They decided to take a
close look at child care in four representative counties
to learn more. Measuring Up is their report.
Minnesota
Roundtable
The
Minnesota Round Table is a conference that brings together
a panel of nationally recognized experts on children's
issues for a lively discussion of issues at the forefront
of research and practice.
Fact
Find Policy Briefs
Each
edition of Fact Find presents succinct information on
a given early childhood topic. Fact Find supports the
decision-making of legislators and other policymakers.
Each issue of CEED's newsletter Early Report explores
a specific topic related to young children and their
families.
CEHD:
Institute for Child Development
Phone:
612/624-0526
Ordinary
Magic: Resilience in Children
Minnesota
Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Children
Who Overcome Adversity to Succeed in Life
By
Ann S. Masten. A paper in a larger "Just In Time
Research: Building Resilient Communities" report
prepared by the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
Harris
ITV Seminars
The
Harris ITV Seminars are consultation sessions specifically
designed for supervisors and practitioners who are using
videotaping in their work with these families.
CEHD:
Early Childhood Research Institute on Measuring Growth
and Development
College
of Human Ecology
CHE:
School of Social Work — Center
for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
"A
Social Justice Framework for Child Welfare: The
Agenda For the New Century"
Extension
Service
Public
Policy for Children, Youth and Families: Youth and Family
Development Context Paper,
October 2000
Briefing/Research
Papers on Early Care and Education
The
Action Plan For Early Care and Education in Minnesota: Early Care
and Educaiton Finance Commission Final Report (PDF)
The
(Minnesota) Legislative Auditor’s Report on Early Childhood
Education Programs
Community Agencies
Children’s
Defense Fund — Minnesota
Center
for Ethical Business Cultures
Assists
business leaders in creating ethical and profitable business
cultures at the enterprise, community and global levels.
Congregations
Concerned For Children Child Advocacy Network
A
faith-based voice for children. Recruits, and trains people
of faith to be advocates for children, especially children
living in poverty or experiencing violence.
Child Care
Sites
Early Child Care Research Studies
Research studies conducted by Wilder Reasearch Center on early childhood care and education issues in Minnesota.
National
Network for Child Care
Resources
on child care issues coordinated by the National Cooperative
Extension Service. Includes policy section.
Minnesota
Child Care Resource and Referral Network
Child
Care Works
Child
Care WORKS is Minnesota's statewide voice for Child Care
and Early Education. Through Child Care WORKS, parents,
child care providers and communities have a stronger,
more effective voice that can impact how policy is shaped.
State Departments
Department of Education
The
agency's mission is to improve the well-being of children
and families in Minnesota.
Minnesota
Department of Human Services — Children’s Services
Other Early
Care and Education Links
National
Center for Early Development and Learning
A
national early childhood research project operated by
The FPG Child Development Center, UNC-Chapel Hill in collaboration with The
University
of Virginia & UCLA.
"The
Missing Support Infrastructure in Early Childhood"
From
Early Childhood Research and Practice (an Internet
journal on the development, care, and education of young
children published by the Frank Porter Graham Child Development
Center).
Joint
Center for Poverty Research Working Papers and Policy Briefs
Research
by affiliates of the center or research presented at its
conferences, seminars and other events. The series provides
an opportunity to circulate research before it appears
in final form in an academic journal or elsewhere. Search
by subject for a variety of policy related papers on early
care and education topics.
JCPR
Working Papers
JCPR
Policy Briefs
National
Association for the Education of Young Children
"The
National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) has been guided by the same mission and philosophy
for nearly 75 years -- to serve and act on behalf of the
needs, rights, and well-being of all young children."
Minnesota
Association for the Education of Young Children Minnesota's
chapter of NAEYC.
What
The Polling Tells Us
A
review of data and findings from about a dozen separate
focus group projects and more than a dozen polling efforts
on public attitudes toward early care and education over
the past five years by both foundations and the advocacy
communities. Compiled by the Communications Consortium
Media Center.
National
Governor's Association Early Childhood Resources
"The
First Three Years: A Governor's Guide to Early Childhood
is intended as a tool to help Governors and their policy
advisors convey the importance of investing in a child's
first three years to legislators, parents, businesses,
and other community members who can become partners in
the effort to give children a better start in life. First
written in 1997 under the direction of NGA Chairman Governor
Bob Miller of Nevada, this guide is now maintained as
a website to provide links to the latest reports, initiatives,
and information on early childhood. While the guide is
no longer available in print, readers are welcome to download
and print any information contained on this site."
