Innovation in ECD: Part I

There is a need for an R&D platform and an innovation dimension to the ECD field. There are disparities worldwide in the social determinants of health and development, and these disparities by population level are preventable. We can start using the best practices available right now and improve the outcome in a variety of other ares by providing the right kinds of supports and assistance and programs early in life. There is a problem in that there is a focus on evidence-based programs and policies, regardless on how effectiveness is defined, so that there is little space to try new things that have not yet been proven to be effective. It is difficult to scale up programs. Science is an incredible untapped resource for driving an R&D platform, especially in neuroscience and molecular biology. More attention can be given through science to development in the prenatal period and the first few years of life, and even a woman’s health before she becomes pregnant. We must focus on the needs of adults as well as children because adults provide the health-promoting, developmentally-promoting environment for young children.

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