蜜桃影视

Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

On May 16, hosted a webinar to coincide with the publication of , a consensus report that examines gaps that prevent children from having equitable access to resources and experiences. The authors make evidence-based recommendations for actions that can be taken by policymakers, practitioners, community organizations and philanthropic organizations, as well as other stakeholders.

Here are our top 5 takeaways from the presentation:

1. The many gaps are related and rooted in history. The 鈥済ap鈥� usually refers to future academic performance. While education can determine future outcomes, it doesn鈥檛 capture the scope of the potential problems that children and families face.

鈥淥ne of the greatest predictors of a child鈥檚 education outcomes is the education outcome of their mother,鈥� explained Shantel Meek of Arizona State University鈥檚 . 鈥淭hese pieces compound over time and become root causes and beget opportunity gaps in the future.鈥�

鈥淢any gaps in opportunity and outcome share the products of centuries of systemic racism across numerous domains of life, including finances, wealth, health and education,鈥� explained Duke University鈥檚 Kenneth A. Dodge. The research suggests that exclusionary policies and practices, such as residential and school segregation, are some of the structural drivers of these gaps, since they dictate whether and how many resources are distributed to children, based on where they live and go to school. Additionally, macroeconomic and labor market trends affect parental earnings and job quality, influencing stress levels and health, and affecting children’s development.

2. Gaps impact birth and beyond. While most babies in the United States are born healthy, and on track for normal physical and cognitive development, those who are not may need substantial resources and care to survive infancy and meet the challenges beyond. Nearly 15% of women in the U.S. do not receive adequate prenatal care.

鈥淎ccess to quality maternity care is critical to maternal health and positive birth outcomes, especially in light of the high mortality rates and severe maternal morbidity in the United States,鈥� explained New York University鈥檚 LaRue Allen. 鈥淔ailure to provide these opportunities early in life can lead to worse outcomes or exacerbate health issues that cause concern.鈥�

3. Environment and income influence growth factors. Child well-being is affected by environmental factors like harmful pollutants and contaminants in the water and air. The prenatal and early childhood periods represent windows of increased susceptibility. Children of color and those of lower-income households are more likely to experience these opportunity gaps.

鈥淧arents’ jobs shape economic opportunities for children, particularly since wages are such a large source of family income,鈥� explained Pamela K. Joshi of Brandeis University. 鈥淎ccess to paid leave improves parents’ health and young children鈥檚 health in infancy up to and through elementary school.鈥� About a third of working families and most low-income families do not earn enough wages from their full-time employment to always cover necessities to raise children.

4. Access to universal care and culturally inclusive education is essential. Children are born learning, and neuroscience has long demonstrated that the early years are among the most sensitive periods for brain development. Child care and education rarely meet the needs of those most in need, and experiences differ when access is granted 鈥� for instance, dual language learners. 鈥淎 lack of access to bilingual staff and teacher expectations, cultural inclusivity and effective engagement with families who speak a language other than English, all shape children鈥檚 experiences and disproportionately those of immigrant children, Latino and Asian American children,鈥� explained Milagros Nores of Rutgers Univeristy.

5. Mental health must be a focus. The authors found that well-implemented, universal programs such as home visiting and social-emotional learning approaches in child care and preschool settings can improve outcomes. In addition, policies that support their parents’ mental health and well-being can improve outcomes for their children.

鈥淎ccess not only to mental health treatment but also to mental health promotion and prevention services and environments is crucial to parents, caregivers and children, Dodge said,

鈥淗owever, a lack of culturally informed and linguistically matched care can exacerbate inequalities for marginalized groups.鈥� Young children who experience compromised mental health are at increased risk for later challenges in their physical health, social relationships, psychological well-being and financial stability that last across the lifespan.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 蜜桃影视. Learn more here.