Twelve Texas organizations whose programs help early childhood brain development will receive a share of $3.5 million in grants from the Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF), the foundation said last week.
The organizations include parent support groups, training programs, models at pediatric clinics, and home-visiting programs.
“EHF’s effort is based on brain science showing that a child’s first three years offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a strong brain, develop a curious and creative mind, and decrease the chance of developing serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression later in life,” foundation President and CEO Elena Marks said in a statement. “We want to create healthier communities for generations to come.”
Find details on the early childhood brain development grants on the EHF website.
Texas Medical Association official policy recognizes that “childhood and adolescence are critical times for brain development,” and calls for multiple strategies in managing mental health disorders among children.
If you are interested in learning more about strategies for promoting pediatric brain development in children, register for the 2020 Pediatric Brain Health Summit scheduled for March 23 and 24 in Austin.
“The Pediatric Brain Health Summit is part of the pediatric brain health initiative, a multi-sector, multi-agency collaboration focused on the prenatal to three-year-old developmental window,” organizers said. “The purpose of the initiative is to use the current science on pediatric brain development to help inform and support programs that promote community resilience and optimal development in Texas’ children.”
Topics to be covered include policies and practices to support families; screening for social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences, and postnatal depression; and creating connections between community organizations and medical practices.
More information, including how to register, can be found on the summit’s website.
Last Updated On
February 03, 2020
Originally Published On
February 03, 2020