Dates of Project: July 2005 through December 2016
Field of Work: Early childhood intervention for very vulnerable children and their families
Problem Synopsis: Research on early brain development has found that the stress present in a young child's environment can damage that child's developing brain. Children growing up in poverty, living in substandard housing in rough neighborhoods, with a mother or other parent figure overwhelmed by life demands, or with significant health issues, experience high levels of stress on a daily basis. To improve the potential of these very vulnerable children requires addressing system issues and promoting a secure attachment between parent and child.
Synopsis of the Work: Using a two-pronged approach based on current brain science, Child FIRST, located in Connecticut:
- Connects families to appropriate services and resources, thereby decreasing environmental stress.
- Through home visitation and other supports, facilitates a nurturing parent-child relationship and secure attachment, which protects the child's developing brain from damage.