Chauntel Norris Director, Alabama Prison Birth Project; Co-founder, Baobab Birth Collective Chauntel Norris is the director of the Alabama Prison Birth Project, a doula certified lactation counselor, and LaMaze-certified childbirth educator. She is also the co-founder of Baobab Birth Collective, a community-based organization that provides doula care, lactation support, and early parenting resources. Through her […]
Category: Infant/early childhood health
JIWC Community Spotlight: Ashley Minihan
Ashley Minihan Founder and Lead Doula, Empowered Beginnings Ashley Minihan is a doula, childbirth educator, and founder of Empowered Beginnings, a Connecticut-based organization providing holistic, community-centered support to families before, during, and after birth. Her work emphasizes education, trust, and connection to ensure parents feel informed and supported throughout the perinatal period. Ashley also provides […]
Information About the Infant Formula Supply Shortage
Communities nationwide are experiencing infant formula shortages after a large recall in February. This shortage has left many parents and caregivers concerned about how they will feed their babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created a tip sheet for caregivers struggling to find formula for infants or medically fragile children. Key information from […]
Resource: The State of Babies Yearbook 2021
Telling the story of America’s babies is more important than ever. The State of Babies Yearbook: 2021 shows us that, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the littlest among us did not have the supports they needed to thrive. As a result, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the conditions that contribute to babies’ development and families’ stability. Black and Brown babies and babies […]
Resource: The Brain Architects: Connecting Health & Learning (Part II)
Check out this The Brain Architects podcast episode titled: Connecting Health & Learning (Part II). The podcast guests discuss policies relevant to prenatal to three and how these policies can improve social determinants like poverty, community violence, and racism.
Resource: Why Do We Focus on the Prenatal-to-3 Age Period?: Understanding the Importance of the Earliest Years
This research brief provides information on why the prenatal to 3 year period is sensitive. It specifies what conditions enhance family health during this period and how parents/guardians can be supported. Finally, it describes institutional changes that can improve child care.
Resource: Bedtime Routines That Work!
Positive Parenting posted a video clip and narrative about bedtime routines that are scientifically backed. The routines include: 1) giving children a healthy snack, 2) hygiene practices, and 3) reading, singing, and physical contact before bed. Learn more about bedtime routines and their impact from this resource!
Resource: The Brain Architects Podcast – Connecting Health & Learning Part I
This episode of The Brain Architects podcast addresses how early childhood development and lifelong health are intertwined. It specifically explains how biological systems respond to stress and how stress effects the prenatal period, and early years of life.
Resource: MN Association for Children’s Mental Health Caregiver Resources Page
The MN Association for Children’s Mental Health has created a Caregiver Resources page. It was developed for parents, caregivers, and family members to support children’s and their own mental health. Resources include: factsheets and videos and topics include: attachment, childhood development, and trauma. More topics will be added over time!
Resource: Guide to Early Childhood Development and COVID-19
This guide, curated by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, focuses on resources and topics regarding COVID-19 and childhood development. Topics include: stress, resilience, how COVID-19 relates to childhood development, and how to support children/yourself through COVID-19 outbreaks.
Resource: Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Mothers and Their Children in Illinois
This resource, provided by Chapin Hall, shares a variety of information on incarcerated women including: demographic information, descriptions of parenting prior to and during incarceration, information on pregnancy and birth programs, mental health service needs, and more! This resource is comprehensive and a great reference for incarceration facilities, as well as organizations that serve incarcerated […]
Resource: MN Rural Care Chartbook
The Minnesota Department of Health compiled a chartbook focusing on rural health in MN. This chartbook defines rural in MN, provides demographic information about rural residents, shares insurance coverage for rural residents, gives statistics on primary and specialty care access for rural residents, shares information on trauma care availability (including driving time), discusses opioid rates, […]
Resource: Simply Sayin’
Have you ever wondered how you can more clearly communicate medical jargon? Well, there’s an app for that! Simply Sayin’ helps medical professionals and families translate medical language into child and developmental friendly speech. The free application is available in English and Spanish, for Apple devices. The app includes: a glossary, animated images and photographs, anatomical […]
Resource: Toxic Stress
The Center of the Developing Child (Harvard University) produced this video to describe toxic stress, how it can impact children and adults, and steps to mitigate toxic stress for an individual or a community. This video is focused on parents and children, but also includes information for policy makers and practitioners. They also produced the […]
Resource: Lead Safe Toolkit for Home-Based Child Care
The Children’s Environmental Health Network, the National Center for Healthy Housing and the National Association of Family Child Care put together this lead toolkit for home based child care. The toolkit provides information on drinking water, paint, soil, and consumer products. Fact sheets and a poster is included for display or further information at child care centers. In […]