First 5 LA Sponsors 27th National Training Institute

In partnership with First 5 LA, the 27th National Training Institute event held Nov. 29 - Dec. 1 was organized by ZERO TO THREE, a national non-profit organization supporting the health and development of infants and toddlers, a population that First 5 LA serves.

During the event, ZERO TO THREE released a new policy brief titled, "Policy Brief: Core Competencies for the Prenatal Through Age Three Workforce." The brief examined the need to strengthen the workforce serving the prenatal to three population because of its impact on young children and their future.

Other highlights during the event included:

• The audience heard from a nationally recognized expert in child and brain development who spoke about the core ingredients of a healthy brain and how social, emotional and cognitive skills are established in young children.
• A top economist spoke about how lessons from economics can help promote early childhood policy development and advocacy over the next few years, which will produce a productive workforce from the investment in early child development.
• Attendees learned more about research that raised questions about how very young children learn to care for others, and the importance of close relationships and positive social motivation.

First 5 LA Program Officer Leticia Sanchez said the event shed more light on how to better serve the 0-3 child population.

"We want to be able to provide better services that will be responsive to the needs of the 0 to 3 child population and their families, and this event provided some important information," she said. "We're working closely with ZERO TO THREE to accomplish our mutually agreed upon goals. We're aligned very well with them."