CDC’s Public Health Approach to Supporting Child Development: Research and Opportunities through a Health Equity Lens

• In Event: Federal Support for Early Learning and Development Research: Current Research Priorities and Opportunities

Abstract

Early childhood represents a period of growth that lays the foundation for successful learning, development, and health. Disparities in risk and in access to resources emerge early and widen over time. Supporting child development is a fundamental public health issue as it provides the foundation for life-long health and well-being. Optimal development includes physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development. Program staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will present an overview of public-health-related child development programs, activities, and opportunities at the CDC, highlighting the important role child development plays in the health and well-being of the population. Utilizing a health equity lens addressing racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and disability disparities, this presentation will focus on four key areas of public health and child development: (1) research and prevention programs related to supporting healthy child development conducted by CDC scientists and partners; (2) health communication and promotion activities designed to promote child health and development at the population level; (3) public health policy analysis and development of policy tools and resources and (4) public health opportunities at CDC for researchers and child development professionals including public access datasets, relevant resources and tools, as well as professional development and funding opportunities.
Specific attention will be given to CDC’s research and prevention programs that address the needs of diverse families and address racial and economic health disparities (e.g., improving access to mental health treatment; early childhood-focused Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) programs). We will highlight health communication and promotion activities that focus on families of young children and are designed to promote economic, disability, and racial inclusion (e.g., the Health Impact in Five Years (HI-5) Initiative, Act Early Ambassadors, Children’s Mental Health Champions). We will describe policy analyses and development of policy tools and resources to improve access to children’s mental health treatment.
We will describe public use datasets that allow for analyses to address health equity (e.g., the National Health Interview Survey, Health Resources and Services Administration’s National Survey of Children’s Health) along with other relevant resources and tools for developmental researchers. We will conclude with an overview of professional development, such as training, fellowships, employment opportunities for applicants from diverse backgrounds, and funding opportunities that allow researchers to further our knowledge about diverse populations.

Author

• Helena Jean Hutchins, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Presenting Author