Key Organizations Dedicated to Promoting the Healthy Development of Children Ages Birth to Five

American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Child Care America
Visit this website to learn about child care health consultation and how to become a child care health consultant working to improve the quality of early education programs.  Be sure to also visit the following link to learn about Healthy Child Care Texas goals in promoting child care health consultants in conjunction with the Texas Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Plan.

Born Learning
Born Learning is a collaborative effort designed to facilitate learning in all childhood experiences. This site is especially useful for parents, grandparents, and early childhood education professionals in providing constant learning opportunities for children within the context of day-to-day activities. For specific questions on healthcare, nutrition, and sleep you can click on the “Promoting Health” section of the website for important tips and information.

Bright Futures: Prevention and health promotion for
infants, children, adolescents, and their families.
Bright Futures, initiated by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) over a decade ago, is a philosophy and approach that is dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy, and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family, and the community. Specialized materials are available for each group and outline the critical aspects of care and development that enable healthy futures for young children.

Center for Public Policy Priorities
For more than twenty years, the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) has been a nonpartisan research organization committed to improving public policies and private practices to better the economic and social conditions of low- and moderate-income Texans. CPPP is also home to the Texas KIDS COUNT data project. Visit this website to obtain the 2007 annual State of Texas Children report and more.

Child Trends
Child Trends is a national research center dedicating to providing critical information for improving the well-being of children.  From child data to program evaluation to identifying best practices, Child Trends has developed a strong reputation in informing public policy. 

Children’s Defense Fund
The Children’s Defense Fund will celebrate its 35th anniversary of advocating for the health and well-being of children in 2008.  Although CDF works on a variety of issue areas, recently the organization has focused their efforts on ensuring every child in America has access to health insurance.  Be sure to also visit the Children’s Defense Fund of Texas website and their efforts at the state level.

Children's Learning Institute
The Children’s Learning Institute (CLI) at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston combines data and studies from the fields of psychology, neurodevelopment, education and child development to provide proven learning solutions derived from, and supported by, documented research.  CLI includes: The State Center for Early Childhood Development and the Texas Early Education Model (TEEM), Center for Improving the Readiness of Children for Learning and Education (CIRCLE), Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic, Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI), Texas Reading First Initiative, Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office, and Reach Out and Read Texas. 

Docs For Tots
Doctors, medical professionals and medical students have the opportunity to become active early childhood advocates through the resources and support offered by Docs For Tots. Get connected to advocacy organizations in your area to coordinate messages and programs that encourage families to approach early childhood with the care that young children deserve. The combined strength of health experts and advocacy groups is ideal for creating significant changes in how we view and foster early childhood development that will have lasting positive outcomes.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for young children ages birth to age eight.  This site includes research and public education articles on critical issues in early childhood development as well as an accredited child care provider locator tool. The Public Policy section will keep you up to date about shifts in law and regulation related to early childhood education at the state and federal levels.

National Center for Early Development and Learning
NCEDL is a national early childhood research project supported by the US Department of Education's Institute for Educational Sciences (IES). Administratively based at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, NCEDL is a collaborative partnership with the University of Virginia and UCLA. Visit this website for research related to infants and toddlers, preschoolers, professional development and more.

Ounce of Prevention
The Ounce of Prevention Fund is dedicating to ensuring that every child enters Kindergarten ready for school success.  Successful advocacy efforts in Illinois over the past 25 years have led to the Birth to Five Policy Alliance at the national level where you can view legislative and policy updates in all 50 states and more 

Parents’ Action for Children
Dedicated to raising awareness of the critical importance of the early years, this site is where the critically acclaimed I Am Your Child series was born and over the past decade more than a dozen productions have been released.  The newest addition “For the Child” is now available to help foster parents and kinship care providers address the mental health needs of children in their care

Parents as Teachers National Center
Parents as Teachers has created programs for parents and professionals to implement in local communities to ensure that children reach their full potential. This site is rich in resources for both parents and early education professionals and covers a wide range of topics from school readiness to nutrition, safety and more.  Based on early childhood education and development research, Parents as Teachers offers advocacy resources as well as tools for becoming an active participant in parent education at home and in Washington, D.C.  Be sure to also visit the Texas Chapter of this important work.

Pediatricians and Health Professionals: Get Involved with the AAP!
 Members of the health care community are encouraged to become involved at the local or national level with councils devoted to the improvement of pediatric childcare. A link to other professionals in your area who are committed to this issue is a great way to jump start coalition building in support of quality health care for young children.

Raising Texas
Raising Texas is a statewide, collaborative effort to strengthen Texas' system of services for young children and families so that all children enter school healthy and ready to learn.  Through the collaborative partnership of nine state agencies, 16 community based agencies and 60 key stakeholders, a state plan has been developed to improve the current system of services for all children age birth to 6.  This new website includes an overview of this initiative, key stakeholders involved, a link to the comprehensive state plan, and additional resources.

Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read is a national initiative that has partnered with pediatricians to promote early literacy and overall child well being.  The mission of  Reach Out and Read Texas   is to make early literacy a standard part of pediatric primary care.  ROR-TX ensures that young children are provided with books when they visit the doctor. Learn more about how to volunteer, find a program location near you, or develop your own program.

Texas Association for Infant Mental Health (TAIMH)
The mission of TAIMH is to provide awareness of the critical importance of the first three years of life in human development; conditions which enhance the quality of infant/caregiver relationships; policy and practice which optimize the emotional development of infants.  The Texas Association for Infant Mental Health is an interdisciplinary, professional organization established to nurture and promote the optimal development of infants, toddlers, and families through relationship-based training and advocacy efforts.

Texans Care For Children
Issues and advocacy come together in this organization to help you make the most of your ability to create positive change for children across the state. Texans Care For Children is dedicated to raising awareness and developing public policy around the following issue areas: child poverty and family economic security; child and maternal health; children’s mental health; early care and education; child welfare; at-risk youth and juvenile justice.

ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE provides parents and professionals with tools and resources for understanding early childhood development. The “Key Topics” section is extensive and provides great insight into relevant issue areas such as temperament and behavior; social emotional development; early childhood mental health; and more.

Don’t see your organization listed or a critical resource that you utilize on a regular basis? Please email Kara Johnson at kjohnson@tecec.org so that we can update this information.