News | Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Birth to Five Policy Alliance is a national nonprofit that exists to shift the odds for the youngest, most vulnerable children so they can grow up eager to learn and ready for success in life. The Alliance promotes strategic and broad-based leadership to build new champions for early childhood policy, state-based advocacy and knowledge development. The group also disseminates research and policy analysis. The Alliance recently launched the #B25 social media campaign, with a goal of spreading research-based messages via Facebook and Twitter to increase awareness about the benefits of early childhood policies and investments. The work of Birth to Five closely aligns with Any Baby Can’s mission, and the agency is proud to join #B25 as a supporting partner.
#B25 has compiled a rich library of research. Some of the most eye-opening information is in the area of brain research. The importance of work with young children becomes even more apparent when considering the following:
• The pace of brain development from birth to five years of age is faster than any other time in a person’s life.
• Toxic stress in early childhood can disrupt the development of the brain architecture, leading to cognitive,
social and psychological impairments in adulthood.
• The relationships children have with their parents and caregivers play critical roles in regulating stress hormone
production during the early years of life. (Find sources at www.birthtofivepolicy.org.)
You can join Any Baby Can in raising awareness of the impact of early childhood investments by joining the #B25 social media campaign. Visit http://www.birthtofivepolicy.org for complete details and tips to get started.
Photo courtesy of Birth to Five Policy Alilance.
$22,350:
the Federal Poverty limit for a family of 4
525
words are known by a 3 yr old on welfare; a middle class 3 yr old knows 1,116 words
35%
of pregnant women receive inadequate prenatal care
