There is widespread agreement that the first 1,000 days of life are critical for brain development related to language skills, bonding with others, and regulating one’s own behavior. Also well-known is that trauma causes infants’ and toddlers’ brains to go into “fight-or-flight” mode, during which time they stop acquiring these building blocks for later stages of development.
No one wants to remove children from their families unnecessarily. Yet, as 4 month-old Aaliyah Goodwin’s story illustrates, parents are currently getting many chances, sometimes for years, to address their neglectful behavior, whether it’s caused by drug abuse, mental health issues, or their own trauma. As a result, multiple siblings may experience debilitating neglect.
Organizational cultures rarely change without outside pressure. Early childhood advocates could be that force by engaging child welfare leaders in a conversation about modifying current practices especially during infancy.
Join Rich for a deeper discussion and analysis in this week’s podcast, available here or wherever you hear your favorite shows.