First 1,000 Days - Off to a Heathy Start

CHDI hosted a First 1000 Days: Off to a Healthy Start forum at the State Capitol on October 19, 2012 as part of the State's First 1000 Days initiative, began by Deputy Commissioner Janice Gruendel at the Department of Children and Families.

An accompanying briefing paper entitled: Connecticut's Children: Off to a Healthy Start, includes an overview of how Connecticut's youngest children are doing on key health indicators, what the State is currently doing, and what still needs to be done. Click below to download the briefing paper.

The October 19th forum was the second in the First 1000 Days series and focused on the most pressing early child health issues in Connecticut. Top state officials joined health professionals, community leaders, and early child educators to discuss Connecticut's early childhood health system and how it is serving children in the First 1000 Days of their lives.

No child should arrive at kindergarten with unidentified and unaddressed health or developmental concerns. Health is defined broadly, encompassing physical, social, emotional and oral health. To achieve this outcome, Connecticut needs a coordinated early childhood education and child development system with a strong and fully integrated health component that begins to meet the needs of children from birth, if not before.

Connecticut's First 1000 Days initiative is a collaborative public-private venture focused on improving the development and school readiness outcomes of young children in the State of Connecticut. The First 1000 Days refers not only to the first three years of life, but what can be done in Connecticut over the next three years to improve the likelihood that all children will achieve optimal development leading to success in school and thriving in life.

Click here to view the event videotaped by CT-N.
Click here to read an article in the Hartford Courant about the event.
Click here to view pictures from the event.
Click here to hear a radio clip from CRN about the forum.
To download the Briefing Paper (#3) - Connecticut's Children: Off to a Healthy Start, see sidebar.
To download the keynote speaker's slides, see sidebar.