The Lotus Alliance is a prison doula project in Columbia, South Carolina. The project’s co-directors, Kaylin Smith and Sadie Whitehead, work in coalition with other doulas, medical students, and doctors to provide support in the Camille Graham Correctional Institution throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Sadie and Kaylin were instrumental in pushing forward an anti-shackling bill […]
Category: Parenting
Supporting Families Impacted by Maternal Incarceration
October 27, 2021 Amy Ard, Executive Director of Motherhood Beyond Bars and Vanessa Garrett, Reentry and Reunification Program Manager, discuss ways to provide direct services, education, and emotional support to families caring for infants of incarcerated mothers. This is the second of a four-part webinar series organized by the National University Collaborative on the Health […]
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: 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!
Faculty Spotlight: Susan Mason, PhD, MPH
Dr. Susan Mason, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. A social epidemiologist, her research focuses on the public health impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), like trauma, neglect and abuse. Susan teaches PUBH 6341: Epidemiologic Methods I. 1. What inspired you to study public health? I have […]
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: Bullying Prevention and Response Training Module
Do you want to learn how to recognize, intervene, and prevent bullying? Check out this module, designed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It highlights the impact of bullying on health and how bullying can lead to internalizing, psychosomatic, and academic problems. Throughout the module, users check their knowledge on topics through quizzes. The […]
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: Safe and Sound – Responding to the Experiences of Children Adopted or in Foster Care
The American Academy of Pediatrics published multiple guides explaining how to respond to the experiences of adopted or foster care children. The role-specific guides include teachers, caseworkers, parents, and childcare providers. Each guide details trauma, prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol, learning, and identity. Check out the guides here to learn more about how you […]
Resource: CDC Influenza Materials
Are you looking for resources to promote health literacy around influenza and the influenza vaccine? Check out the CDC Influenza Resources page! This page includes a large variety of free resources including print materials, infographics, factsheets in multiple languages, videos, and even a graphic novel (picture below)! Resources range in target audience, including youth, adults, people […]