We are a group of parents, teachers, advocates, direct service providers, supporters, champions, and amplifiers who work with a variety of stakeholders to support prenatal and early development and strengthen the systems that affect the overall health and wellbeing of children and families in our region. [...] Widen the lens to put behavior, decisions, and choices in social and historical context, building public understanding of the contextual conditions, supports, and relationships that affect children and families beyond the micro-environment of the home setting. [...] To avoid prompting judgment of parents, widen the lens of your message to put behavior, decisions, and choices in social and historical context, building public understanding of the contextual conditions, supports, and relationships that affect children and families beyond the micro-environment of the home setting. [...] Programs and policies that address the needs of children and their families at the same time provide the stability families need to harness their full potential, starting a cycle of opportunity that puts the entire family on a path to permanent economic security. [...] When it comes to designing and redesigning systems-level policies that affect the lives of families and children, the meaningful inclusion of the expertise and perspectives of parents from a range of backgrounds is well worth the effort and patience it will require.
- Pages
- 28
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- Reframing Early Childhood to Strengthen Systems That Impact Children and Families 1
- Contents 2
- About This Toolkit 3
- Part I Getting Started 5
- Part II Know Before You Go 6
- Part III Strategies for Elevating the Issue and Fostering a Sense of Collective Responsibility 15
- We Share Responsibility for Our Regions Children 16
- Positive Development for All Children Regional Thriving 16
- We All Need a Strong Foundation 16
- Children Are Our Future We Must Invest in Their Potential 16
- Investing Wisely Works 17
- Part IV Metaphors 18
- Metaphors for Anchoring Your Advocacy in the Science of Child Development 18
- Additional Metaphors 21
- Part V Key Ideas to Advance 22
- If Youre Talking About Supporting Positive Development 22
- If Youre Talking About How Stronger Communities Support Overall Child and Family Wellbeing and Promote Shared Prosperity 23
- If Youre Talking About Childhood Adversity 24
- Part VI Framing Checklist 25
- Reframing Early Childhood to Strengthen Systems That Impact Children and Families 28
