Getting to know your international contacts- Part II

As I explored The Harvard University’s center on the developing child website, I realized that there is a number of different types of resources available there. I found very interesting information that are research based and current. One important fact I gathered is that the topic of Child development seem to be taking new turns globally. More countries are paying attention to the importance of investing in early childhood and are raising the bar on early childhood education. A fitting example is that The center on the developing child, Harvard University (2014) reports that Brazil is making new strides with the knowledge of the science of early childhood. After sitting together for an executive leadership course in early childhood development, hosted by Harvard University in 2012, politicians, policymakers, public managers and civil-society leaders got new insights and tools to design and implement more effective public policies and social programs. 

Mary E young, course director, explained that the purpose of this course, is aimed at helping policymakers “to acquire a common knowledge on the importance of the early years, so that they will be able to translate that knowledge into practice to close the gap between what we know and what we do”( (Harvard University, 2014). Those attending the meeting realize the challenges they will encounter in working with the cross-section of stakeholders. However the attitude that they are taking is outlined in the Global children’s initiative strategic goals that states:

•reframing the discourse around child health and development in the global policy arena by educating high-level decision-makers about the underlying science of learning, behavior, and health, beginning in the earliest years of life;
•supporting innovative, multi-disciplinary research and demonstration projects to expand global understanding of how healthy development happens, how it can be derailed, and how to get it back on track; and
•building leadership capacity in child development research and policy—focused on both individuals and institutions—in low- and middle-income countries to increase the number and influence of diverse voices and perspectives that are contributing to the growing global movement on behalf of young children."
(Harvard University, 2014)
                                    

Harvard University, (2014). Center On The Developing Child. Retrieved from
     http:/developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global initiative