Keeping Kids in Child Care: Alternatives to Suspension Women’s Voices Rising for Social Justice March 10, 2016 ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ The Heights

Where it Begins

Baby Brain Development 101 Early experiences – Decisive impact on brain architecture – Directly affect the way the brain is “wired” Genetics are the Interstate Highways; experience develops secondary roads Genetics provide the “trunk” phone lines; experience connects neighborhoods/homes

Making Connections

Building and Pruning

Relationship Skills Before 3 Years

POOR QUALITY CHILD CARE HELPS MAKE FUTURE CRIMINALS From birth to three...

Baby Brain Development 201 Architecture influenced by relationships Positive connections: “to and fro” interactions – Holding, snuggling – Talking and singing – Feeding – Eye gazing – Mutual babbling

Early Childhood Mental Health Sensory nourishment (i.e., “food for the brain”) Attachment, bonding Emotional security Trust Social cue competence Body boundaries Self-soothing

Toxic Stress – What it Is Constant and prolonged activation of stress response systems – Chronic neglect – Traumatic experiences Absence of protective (i.e., caring, stable, nurturing) relationships Higher impact during sensitive periods

Toxic Stress – Causes Strong, frequent and/or prolonged adversity... – Physical or emotional abuse – Chronic neglect – Caregiver substance abuse or mental illness – Exposure to violence – Family economic hardship...Without adequate adult support

Poor Quality Child Care Minimum staff qualifications: – 18 years old – Free of Tuberculosis Low compensation: – Mostly at minimum wage – Few or no benefits 28% of teachers turnover annually 12 hours of training per year

FERGUSON EFFEC+ – 6 ZIP Codes in North County – 2 years – 3 cohorts of up to 40 teachers 1 st Cohort launched January nd Cohort Fall rd Cohort Spring 2017 – 21 hours of training – 6 coaching visits per classroom

How EFFEC+ Helps Emotional Foundations for Early Childhood-Plus (EFFEC+) Learning Collaborative model for peer support and integration of learning: – Group learning alternates with individual coaching for application of new knowledge – Teaches basics of emotional development and social skill development from birth to five – Teaches classroom-wide and child-specific strategies to support emotional and social development – Develops classroom-specific action plans with SMART goals

Projected EFFEC+ Outcomes 60% of children show improvement in emotional and social development 35% of children measured as delayed are no longer delayed after EFFEC+ (~6 months) Teachers implement 80% or more of their planned strategies Teacher turnover reduced to 10% or less

Grateful to our Partners

Questions?

Thank you! We improve outcomes for children and families, ensuring that children and youth are prepared for success in school and for future participation in a globally competitive economy. L. Carol Scott, PhD Chief Executive Officer