Research for Parents
The importance of investing in the first 5 years:
Research* demonstrates that early childhood development and enrichment programs directly contribute to:
Health Access
Children’s healthy development depends in part on their physical health. The research states that children, prenatal through age 5, need to have access to comprehensive health care, such as having continuous health care coverage to maintain a medical and dental... More
Family Support
Studies have shown that family support is one of the most important factors in ensure that children thrive emotionally, physically, socially, and academically in the first 5 years of their life and beyond. To be resourceful for their own children and to other family members... More
Early Care and Education
Various research findings have shown the benefits of a child’s participation in quality early care and education programs, mostly preschools, well into their adult years. High quality early care preschool settings are environments in which children feel safe to explore and learn... More
Neighborhood Support
Families are resources not only for their own family members, but also for other families in their neighborhood and community. To ensure the healthy development of children in a community, professionals from family support programs and families must work in partnership... More
Systems Change
Children, families, service providers, and policy makers are part of an interdependent system. Because agencies and policy makers often have the most influence on how families receive and benefit from services, it is the... More
FIRST 5 Survey on Fatherhood
Today’s fathers may be more involved in parenting than previous generations, but a new survey released by First 5 California found that 85 percent of California dads of young children feel overwhelmed by their child’s needs... More
Young Latino Infants and Families: Parental Involvement Implications from a Recent National Study
From the Harvard Family Research Project. This article describes findings from a recent study examining parenting behaviors and children's developmental outcomes.... More
Research and Evaluation on Programs for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander Populations
From the Regional Research Institute for Human Services at Portland State University. This article focuses on important ways that culture must be considered in the research and evaluation of mental health programs for children and families from culturally diverse Asian and Pacific Islander groups.... More
Supporting Parents: Promising City Efforts to Help Young Children Succeed
from the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the League of Cities. Increasingly, public agencies understand the importance of children’s early years. This report describes efforts in six cities (outside of California) and their lessons learned..... More
Infant Mental Health Articles
Promoting the Health and Well Being of Infants and Toddlers in Juvenile Court More
Infant Mental Health Interventions More
Brain Development of Children
More
The National Children's Study Research Plan More
Children's Health in California- Health Snapshot
An on-line resource released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and First 5 California. Gives a quick and easy-to-read "snapshot" of children's health statistics in California by county or statewide... More
- Greater language abilities;
- Improved nutrition and health;
- Early identification of developmental delays;
- Higher scores on math and reading achievement tests; and
- Higher graduation rates.
Health Access
Children’s healthy development depends in part on their physical health. The research states that children, prenatal through age 5, need to have access to comprehensive health care, such as having continuous health care coverage to maintain a medical and dental... More
Family Support
Studies have shown that family support is one of the most important factors in ensure that children thrive emotionally, physically, socially, and academically in the first 5 years of their life and beyond. To be resourceful for their own children and to other family members... More
Early Care and Education
Various research findings have shown the benefits of a child’s participation in quality early care and education programs, mostly preschools, well into their adult years. High quality early care preschool settings are environments in which children feel safe to explore and learn... More
Neighborhood Support
Families are resources not only for their own family members, but also for other families in their neighborhood and community. To ensure the healthy development of children in a community, professionals from family support programs and families must work in partnership... More
Systems Change
Children, families, service providers, and policy makers are part of an interdependent system. Because agencies and policy makers often have the most influence on how families receive and benefit from services, it is the... More
FIRST 5 Survey on Fatherhood
Today’s fathers may be more involved in parenting than previous generations, but a new survey released by First 5 California found that 85 percent of California dads of young children feel overwhelmed by their child’s needs... More
Young Latino Infants and Families: Parental Involvement Implications from a Recent National Study
From the Harvard Family Research Project. This article describes findings from a recent study examining parenting behaviors and children's developmental outcomes.... More
Research and Evaluation on Programs for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander Populations
From the Regional Research Institute for Human Services at Portland State University. This article focuses on important ways that culture must be considered in the research and evaluation of mental health programs for children and families from culturally diverse Asian and Pacific Islander groups.... More
Supporting Parents: Promising City Efforts to Help Young Children Succeed
from the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the League of Cities. Increasingly, public agencies understand the importance of children’s early years. This report describes efforts in six cities (outside of California) and their lessons learned..... More
Infant Mental Health Articles
Promoting the Health and Well Being of Infants and Toddlers in Juvenile Court More
Infant Mental Health Interventions More
Brain Development of Children
More
The National Children's Study Research Plan More
Children's Health in California- Health Snapshot
An on-line resource released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and First 5 California. Gives a quick and easy-to-read "snapshot" of children's health statistics in California by county or statewide... More