Prevention and intervention research on early childhood well-being: Using transdisciplinary community-engaged research to address inequities.

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

Researchers from a variety of disciplines (e.g., neuroscientists, pediatricians, educators, social workers, economists, psychologists) concur that supporting positive child development benefit the long-term vitality of every society. Yet the well-being of children is fraught with human-made problems. These adverse conditions include the negation of children’s rights, chronic stress, poverty, health and education inequities, class, race, sex, gender and religion discrimination, emerging diseases (e.g., COVID-19), and environmental consequences of global warming.

Paradoxically, the necessary systems for eliminating these problems are emerging within disparate disciplines, but failure to coordinate science across silos impedes our capacity to find solutions. When disciplinary perspectives converge on common problems, new benefits emerge. In addition, establishing partnerships to engage communities in the design and implementation of interventions and generating evidence of their efficacy would inform program improvement and scaling up efforts.

In this roundtable we will discuss the benefits of transdisciplinary community-engaged research to address inequities affecting children’s well-being. Researchers from the fields of public health (Peter Rockers), social work (Ruth Paris), mental health (Jessica Bartlett) and psychology (Andrew Gadaire) will share their studies and engage in a conversation responding to questions posed by the moderator (Dina Castro): (a) why is a transdisciplinary community-engaged approach critical in children’s well-being research? How is it beneficial and impactful? (b) what are major challenges and factors that facilitate conducting prevention and intervention research on children’s well-being from a transdisciplinary community-engaged perspective? We will encourage interaction with the audience to continue broadening the voices and perspectives engaged in this discussion.

Sub Unit

• Prevention and Interventions

Moderator

• Dina C. Castro, Boston University

Panelists

• Ruth Paris, Boston University

• Peter Rockers, Boston University

• Jessica Dym Bartlett, Thriving Together, LLC

• Andrew Gadaire, Davidson College