The Intersection of Climate, Environment & Maternal and Child Health & Well-being

Throughout the lifespan, health and well-being are influenced by many factors, including climate and the environment. There is a correlation between the physical environment where people live, work, and play and their quality of life. Local government has a role to play in building and strengthening communities where all children can grow and live healthy lives. Join us to hear how local and state governments are working together to address and mitigate the current and future impacts of climate and the environment on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, infants, and toddlers in their communities.  

Speakers:

• Arielle Gerstein, Sustainability Manager, Charleston County Resilience & Sustainability, Charleston County, South Carolina

• Dale Morris, Chief Resilience Officer, Executive Office of Resilience and Sustainability, City of Charleston, South Carolina

• Corey Zimmerman, Chief Program Officer, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

This webinar is part of the State and Local Government Prenatal-to-Three Collaboration in Action initiative, conducted in partnership with the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties Research Foundation, National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers. 

Experiencing homelessness in early childhood can have long-term impacts on health, education and well-being for both children and parents. Homelessness among young children is often hidden, making it harder to collect accurate data and ensure that these children are connected to the services and resources they need. Join NACoRF and SchoolHouse Connection to learn more about the prevalence of homelessness among infants and toddlers and how counties can reduce barriers and increase families’ connections to health and early learning programs.

In their earliest years, children benefit from consistent, nurturing relationships with caregivers. However, infants and toddlers are twice as likely to enter foster care compared to older children. The Safe Babies Court Team approach focuses on minimizing trauma when court involvement is needed by improving how the courts, child welfare agencies and other relevant agencies work together to support infants, toddlers and their families. This webinar will review the core components of the SBCT model and highlight how counties across the country are using trauma-informed strategies to support well-being for infants and toddlers involved in the child welfare system.

Speakers

• Aidan Bohlander, LICSW, PhD, Manager, Outreach & Product Development, ZERO TO THREE

• Dina Mezza, Community Coordinator, Early Childhood Court, Brevard County, Fla.

• The Honorable Kelly J. McKibben, Judge, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts of Florida

Experiences in the first three years of life build the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. Yet. America’s maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the developed world. And for families of color, the odds are stacked against them as they face systemic racism and a historical lack of investment. Government leaders are developing and reforming practices and policies that equitably support children and families during the prenatal-to age 3 developmental period.

Join us to hear how local and state government are working to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates, improving outcomes, and advancing equity for future generations.

This webinar is part of the State and Local Government Prenatal-to-Three Collaboration in Action initiative, conducted in partnership with the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties Research Foundation, National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers.

Many state and local governments are taking actions related to early childhood development. Join NCSL Dec. 7, 1pm ET to learn more about how state legislators and city and county officials can work together to improve outcomes for young children and their families through collaborative policymaking.

Learn more about the Government in Action partnership.

Accessible, affordable child care is essential for a strong workforce and thriving local economy. Improving and expanding early learning facilities – the physical spaces where children learn, play and grow – can increase access to high quality child care and enable parents to participate in the labor force. Join NACo and the National Children’s Facilities Network to learn how counties can include early learning infrastructure investments in broader economic development efforts.

Through the historic American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), states, counties and cities will receive direct, flexible aid to address the impacts of COVID-19, strengthen communities and support children and families. Programs like child care, home visiting, and the Child Tax Credit will receive new or increased federal investments. This new funding presents opportunities for families with infants and toddlers and stronger coordination among state and local government on policies and systems supporting young children. Join this webinar to hear from city, county and state leaders about strategies to leverage ARPA to support young children from prenatal to age three.

This webinar is part of the State and Local Government Prenatal-to-Three Collaboration in Action initiative, conducted in partnership with the National Association of Counties Research Foundation, National League of Cities, National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers.

Resources

County resources:

• NACo COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse

• County-by-county ARPA allocations

• The ABCs of Prenatal to Three for County Leaders

• Counties Getting Started Guidebook

• July 2021 Peer Learning Network convenings on ARPA (recordings)

• Sign up for the Counties for Kids newsletter

City resources:

• NLC’s COVID-19 Resources HUB

• City ARPA allocations

• Sign up for NLC’s early childhood newsletter here

• NLC and Polco webinar on community engagement

• Fact Sheet: Partnering with City Leaders for Early Childhood Success

• Setting the P.A.C.E. for Infants, Toddlers and Families

• City ARPA examples:

  • Louisville - https://louisvilleky.gov/news/mayor-proposes-first-round-american-rescue-plan-spending

  • Alexandria - https://www.alexandriava.gov/AmericanRescuePlan

  • Saint Louis - https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/stimulus-advisory-board/documents/upload/Draft-Direct-Relief-Framework-SAB-Recommendation.pdf

State resources:

• State ARPA allocations

• NCSL’s database detailing how states are using their Fiscal Recovery Funds

• NCSL Early and Education Bill Database

• NCSL webinar briefing on child care stabilization grants

• Sign up for the NCSL newsletter

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes a historic temporary investment in the Child Tax Credit, expanding both its size and its eligibility guidelines in 2021. As a result, an estimated 27 million children will qualify for new levels of direct income support which could cut child poverty in half this year. Join this NACo Webinar for an overview of key outreach and tax assistance strategies to ensure vulnerable families in your county can access these new benefits.

To learn more, contact Rachel Mackey at rmackey@naco.org

Speakers

JOY BIVENS

Vice Chair, NACo Human Services and Education Subcommittee on Education, Children and Families; Deputy Administrator for Health and Human Services, Franklin County, Ohio

ELAINE MAAG

Principal Research Associate, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

REBECCA THOMPSON

Director, Field Engagement & Tax Opportunity Network, Prosperity Now

Disproportional maternal and child health outcomes further exacerbate social determinants and health inequities.  The issue is a complex problem requiring multi-faceted, solutions tailored to the needs of each community.  In this informational webinar, participants will hear from county models who have implemented community-based initiatives to address birth outcomes and support the healthy development of children.

Speakers:

• Patti Shearin, Coordinator, Child Fatality Review Teams, Tarrant County Public Health, Tarrant County, Texas  

• Dr. J’Vonnah Maryman, Associate Director, Family Health Services, Tarrant County Public Health, Tarrant County, Texas

• Helena Girouard, Associate Director, Family Health Services, Tarrant County Public Health, Tarrant County, Texas

The National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF) invites you to participate in a webinar highlighting local innovations and best practice models in early childhood development. Counties play a critical role in shaping early childhood systems and are instrumental in investing in core services supporting young children and families. To ensure that children are developmentally on track at age three and to improve kindergarten school readiness, communities must drive increased attention on prenatal-to-three initiatives and the critical need for early investments around programs and services that ensure a healthy start at birth, provide support to families of infants and toddlers and provide high-quality child care and early learning opportunities. You do not need to have participated in Part 1 to participate in Part 2 of this webinar series.

Earlier this year, Congress passed and the president signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 omnibus bill which included the largest ever increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the nation’s largest federal child care assistance program. In addition to CCDBG’s increase in funding, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced a new funding opportunity for states and localities – the Preschool Development Grant (PDG) – which help states and localities develop a mixed delivery system to serve children from birth through age five, and their families.

Counties provide essential services to families with young children, but many localities struggle with insufficient funding. With the introduction of these new funding opportunities, it is critical to understand how counties can engage these new resources to maximize outcomes for children and their families. Join us for a webinar to hear from the HHS’ Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Child Care about these new resources and how counties can work with their state to gain access to these dollars to support their residents.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress negatively impact the developing brain and contribute to concerning societal outcomes overtime. Understanding the significance of a child’s first experiences and the value of fostering resiliency is critical for counties as they explore ways to administer programs and services to children and families in local communities. Dr. Brenda Jones Harden, Professor in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland College Park, and Chair, Committee of the Board of ZERO TO THREE joined NACo in a workshop at its 2018 Legislative Conference and has returned to share more information on ACEs and how to reduce risk factors in communities. Learn more about ACEs and what counties can do to support local trauma informed models that promote resiliency.

Speakers

DR. BRENDA JONES HARDEN
Professor, University of Maryland, and Chair, Committee of the Board at ZERO TO THREE