First five years are identified as a critical period of child growth in scientific literature. In 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10 that appropriated a 50 cent per pack tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products to support early childhood development. As a result, Kern County Children and Families Commission administered over $10…

In February 2007, First 5 LA contracted with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) and its subcontractors, Juarez and Associates, American Institutes for Research (AIR), and Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center, to conduct the First 5 LA/LAUP Universal Preschool Child Outcomes Study (UPCOS). The authors conducted the study…

This paper describes a project which is attempting to strengthen existing programs and develop new forms of support for rural children and their families. The setting of the project is a three-county area in south-western Pennsylvania which has been designated as "underserved" in reference to health and mental health facilities. The…

This introductory packet discusses early development and learning, and summarizes the research base for early childhood interventions. The packet also examines implications for school readiness, identifies good practice to promote healthy early development and address barriers, and presents resources and references. The packet's introductory…