eNotes
March 6, 2015In this Issue:
- New Working Paper: Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University - March 4, 2015
- Linking Head Start Data with State Early Care and Education Coordinated Data Systems Source: Early Childhood Data Collaborative - March 2, 2015
- A Blueprint for Early Care and Education Quality Improvement Initiatives: Final Report Source: Child Trends - March 5, 2015
- Emergency Preparedness Tip Sheets: Helping Children Cope with Crises and Tragic Events Source: Office of Head Start - March 2, 2015
1. New Working Paper: Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience
Decades of research provide substantial evidence that children who do well despite serious hardship have had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. These relationships buffer children from adversity and help them build key capacities that enable them to adapt and thrive. Supportive relationships, adaptive skill-building, and positive experiences constitute the foundation of what is commonly called resilience. A new Working Paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, Working Paper #13: Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience (March 2013), identifies the key features of resilience and suggests ways to build it throughout the lifespan.
2. Linking Head Start Data with State Early Care and Education Coordinated Data Systems
A new brief from the Early Childhood Data Collaborative, Linking Head Start Data with State Early Care and Education Coordinated Data Systems (March 2015), examines the actions some states have taken in linking Head Start data to other state systems. It describes the importance of including Head Start data in a coordinated early care and education data system, relays what has been learned about current data linkage steps across states, and presents action steps for state and federal leaders.
3. A Blueprint for Early Care and Education Quality Improvement Initiatives: Final Report
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) continue to be developed across states and stakeholders (funders, policymakers, program developers) are looking for effective ways to invest in quality improvement (QI) activities that accompany a QRIS. In response to this need, Child Trends has published a new report, A Blueprint for Early Care and Education Quality Improvement Initiatives: Final Report (March 2015), that addresses questions about effective QI initiatives and proposes a blueprint of quality improvement practices and design considerations. The blueprint was generated from a synthesis of the existing research literature and input from national experts.
4. Emergency Preparedness Tip Sheets: Helping Children Cope with Crises and Tragic Events
The Office of Head Start's National Center on Health (NCH) has released two new tip sheets that focus on children's responses to crises and tragic events, as well as ways to help children cope. They are available in both Spanish and English.
- Children's Responses to Crises and Tragic Events - Infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and young children who experience a tragic event may show changes in their behaviors. They also may be indirectly affected by a crisis through what they hear or see on the TV. This tip sheet provides information on what families and staff might see and how children may respond. It also includes additional resources. Also available in Spanish.
- Helping Your Child Cope After a Disaster - After a disaster or crisis, children benefit when adults assure them that they are safe and help them learn how to cope effectively. This tip sheet provides families and staff with things they can do to help a child feel safe after a disaster or crisis. Also available in Spanish.