MIAMI, Fla. — In May, stakeholders focused on Florida’s youngest children gathered to celebrate that First 1,000 Days Florida is now housed and led by The Children’s Movement of Florida.
Founded in 2014 through an interdisciplinary collaboration of leaders across health, early learning, and family support sectors, First 1,000 Days Florida was created to elevate the importance of the prenatal-to-three years and strengthen outcomes for babies and families during the earliest stages of development. The initiative has brought together researchers, practitioners, advocates, funders and policymakers to advance collaboration around the issues shaping lifelong health, learning, and well-being.
Research shows that the most rapid period of brain development happens during the first three years of life, when babies develop the foundations for language, emotional regulation, learning, and overall wellbeing. During this period, stable relationships, responsive caregiving, access to health care, early intervention, and family support play a critical role in healthy development.
In 2019, following the retirement of Carol Brady, one of the initiative’s co-founders, another co-founder, Dr. Mimi Graham, brought First 1,000 Days Florida under the Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy at Florida State University.
As First 1,000 Days Florida enters a next chapter, the transition to The Children’s Movement of Florida will expand the initiative’s reach and strengthen collaboration around the earliest years across sectors and communities statewide. Through upcoming “policy chats,” parents, educators, physicians, clinicians and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to inform the policy agenda around maternal and child health, child care for infants and toddlers, early screening and intervention for developmental delays and disabilities, and prevention and resilience.
“Supporting families during the first 1,000 days is one of the most powerful ways we can move the needle on kindergarten readiness, maternal and infant health outcomes, and even workforce participation,” said Madeleine Thakur, CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida. “Florida’s future depends on it.”.
“The first years of life are essential to eliminate child poverty and prevent maltreatment,” said Dr. Mimi Graham, Director of the Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy at Florida State University. “From the beginning, First 1,000 Days Florida was built as a ‘big tent’ collaboration with colleagues from maternal and child health, early childhood care, early intervention, and mental health. We are excited for the fresh energy and leadership The Children’s Movement is bringing to this work.”