Dana Shay presented to the Families First Program

In a virtual meeting with the Families First Program (operated by the Powers Centers), Researcher Dana Shay presented findings from her study of poverty in early childhood. Some 250 social workers and professionals from the field participated in her Zoom lecture. Dana stressed the importance of investment in early childhood: “Early childhood is a critical age for cognitive development and brain development; disparities at this early age have long-term implications.”

The participants in the meeting were particularly interested in the connection between research and their work in the field and asked about policy steps that can be taken to prevent these disparities from the start.