UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

Children who live in areas with natural spaces—like forests, parks and backyards—from birth may experience fewer emotional issues, according to a study funded by the NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes program and led by FPG Research Scientist Nissa Towe-Goodman, PhD. Learn more in our Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/eTeeRF6H #Research #ChildDevelopment

Mark your calendars to save these dates! The 25th International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute will take place May 13-15, 2025. And registration for the event opens January 7, 2025! Honoring Our 25 Year History—Reflecting, Celebrating, and Advancing This year, we are celebrating 25 years of bringing together individuals with disabilities, families, practitioners, policymakers, and many other leaders in the field to learn and share ideas, experiences, and expertise on evidence-informed early childhood inclusive practices and policies. And we are thrilled to announce that Jordyn Zimmerman, a passionate educator and disability advocate, will be our keynote speaker! Learn more on our conference website: https://lnkd.in/dejmGm95 #FPGInclusionInstitute #Inclusion #EarlyChildhood

Spoken language is predictive of many positive life outcomes, such as employment, social interaction, play skills and more. But, researchers still don’t know why some children talk and others don’t, especially as it relates to historically marginalized and minoritized populations. A team of researchers lead by Connie Kasari, PhD, (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) and FPG Director Brian Boyd, PhD, will collaborate on a unique project to assess behavioral and neurological markers of language development in low-income children within their family settings, gathering valuable information that could lead to earlier, more targeted interventions for a population that has been largely underrepresented in autism research. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eaQmpeGF #Autism #AutismResearch #Language

While there is a wide body of research demonstrating that a child's experiences from birth to age 5 provide the foundation for their health, well-being, and overall trajectory of their lives, the impact that the effects of racism have on infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is less studied. To expand the literature on this topic, Iheoma U. Iruka, PhD, co-edited Early Childhood Research Quarterly’s supplemental issue, “Advancing Developmental Science on the Impact of Racism in the Early Years,” which was published in December 2024. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eEqhCa3M #EarlyChildhood #ChildDevelopment #Racism

At FPG, our implementation researchers and practitioners work in communities and schools to use best practices from implementation science to support the implementation and scaling of evidence-informed programs and practices to improve outcomes and advance equity for children, youth, and families and the communities where they live. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eXvWrT_J #Implementation #ImplementationScience #ImplementationPractice

To kick off the upcoming development of state-wide resources on math, literacy and social emotional learning for North Carolina pre-K providers, leaders from FPG co-hosted the “Embracing Joy in pre-K Literacy, Math, and Socioemotional Learning NC pre-K Summit.” This event—created in partnership with the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education—brought together 200 NC pre-K educators who teach 4- and 5-year-old children, for a morning of learning with and from each other. Learn more in our Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/eTeeRF6H #EarlyEducation #PreK #Literacy

Camille Catlett is a senior TA specialist at FPG. She has led efforts in 30+ states to incorporate explicit emphasis on children & families of diverse cultures, languages, abilities, & life circumstances in preservice & professional development efforts. https://lnkd.in/ew9eU6xa

Camille Catlett, MA, is a senior technical assistance specialist at FPG. During her 20+ years at FPG, Catlett has led efforts in more than 30 states to incorporate explicit emphasis on children and families of diverse cultures, languages, abilities, and life circumstances in preservice and ongoing professional development efforts. As part of our FPG profile series, we spoke with Catlett to learn more about her work at FPG.

Chih-Ing Lim, PhD, a senior technical assistance specialist at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG), and her three FPG colleagues Senior Technical Assistance Specialist Camille Catlett, MA, Technical Assistance Specialist Jessica Amsbary, PhD, and Technical Assistance Specialist Hsiu-wen Yang, PhD, have been awarded a 2024 UNC Rural Research and Engagement Award. The team is developing culturally responsive instructional materials for preparing current and future early childhood educators (ECEs) in Robeson County to more authentically support the rural children and families that they serve. #NorthCarolina #EarlyChildhood #EarlyEducation

A recent study conducted by the FPG Equity Research Action Coalition and the Gallup Center on Black Voices finds that Black families who regularly engage in a wide range of shared activities report higher levels of wellbeing, happiness and tranquility in their lives. #BlackFamilies #Research