Early Childhood | Prevention Institute

The first years of a child’s life are a critical developmental period that can shape immediate and long-term well-being, making prenatal development and early childhood a key window to support healthy development and prevent harm. Resilient communities, safe housing, quality early childhood care and education, and supportive relationships with caregivers can all have a significant impact on immediate health and well-being across the life course. Through research, multi-sector collaboration, and advocacy, PI works to advance prevention practice on critical early childhood issues, including access to healthy foods and safe places to play and protection from violence, exploitation, and trauma. Prevention Institute also serves on the California Essentials for Childhood steering committee.

Projects & Initiatives

PI works with a breadth of partners and communities to develop strategies and practices to keep people healthy and safe in the first place. Below is a selection of ongoing or recent projects.

Built Environment Policy Advocacy Fund (BEPAF) Program Overview

With funding from First 5 LA, Prevention Institute will award one-year (May 2020 – May 2021) grants ranging from $25,000 – $100,000 to nonprofit organizations, policy advocacy networks, and emerging coalitions advocating for high-quality parks, open space, and recreation facilities; safe and reliable transportation/opportunities for mobility; and/or food security in Los Angeles County. Grantees will participate in a kickoff convening, learning sessions, and a closing convening; grantees will also receive site visits and tailored technical assistance. Grantees will participate in a program evaluation led by Ersoylu Consulting.
Cradle to Community: A Focus on Community Safety and Healthy Child Development

Prevention Institute and the Center for the Study of Social Policy are collaborating to identify the strategic policy, practice, systems, and norms change levers to make communities safer, so that all children have the opportunity to develop optimally and participate fully in the fabric of community life.
Strategic Alliance

Informed by community wisdom and experience, the Strategic Alliance network of advocates shines a light on the role that corporate and government practices play in shaping food and activity environments.

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Publications

We research and write reports, white papers, fact sheets, opinion pieces, and journal articles, as well as produce videos and podcasts. Here are some of our latest offerings.

Making the Case for Breastfeeding: The Health Argument Isn’t Enough

Breastfeeding undeniably has tremendous health benefits for both babies and mothers. Effective breastfeeding messages, however, must go beyond health to highlight the social and cultural context.
Claiming Health: Front-of-Package Labeling of Children's Food

Parents shouldn’t look to the labels on the front of food package for guidance on picking the healthiest products for their kids.
Building Community Commitment for Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships and Environments

Safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments are among the most powerful, protective, and healing forces in a child's life. This publication presents nine key elements for engaging communities, so homes, schools and neighborhood spaces help promote children's healthy development. Prevention Institute developed "Building Community Commitment for Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships and Environments" for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as a supplement to the Essentials for Childhood framework for preventing child abuse and neglect.
Healthy and Active Before 5: Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Obesity in Contra Costa County

Offers a framework for creating food and activity environments in neighborhoods and institutions that will motivate and support families to adopt healthy behaviors.

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Tools & Services

We have developed a broad range of practical, free-to-use tools to guide practitioners, advocates, and policymakers in planning and implementing prevention strategies. We also provide services to help you use our tools to create healthy and safe communities.

A Practitioner's Guide for Advancing Health Equity

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guide, developed with help from Prevention Institute, helps public health practitioners advance health equity through community prevention strategies.

Profiles in Action

These profiles, written by PI and our partners, show what community prevention looks like on the ground, all across the country.

Profiles in Prevention: Los Angeles County: Breastfeeding

Los Angeles County improved breastfeeding outcomes, designating 17 baby-friendly hospitals that have delivered 10,000 babies since 2012.
We're Not Buying It: Stop Junk Food Marketing to Kids

Watch the video and share! "We're Not Buying It" exposes deceptive marketing to children, debunks industry claims, and highlights the latest research. When we put children first, the plan of action is clear: companies should market the foods that keep kids healthy, not sugary cereals and other junk food. The IWG guidelines will help to do just that.

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