Mathematica Early Childhood Experts at SRCD

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Mathematica Early Childhood Experts at SRCD
Presentations Focus on Head Start, Home Visiting, and Child Care Quality

Contact: Jennifer de Vallance, (202) 484-4692

WASHINGTON, DC—April 16, 2013—As policymakers focus on how best to support children’s progress towards school readiness through effective early childhood interventions, Mathematica’s early childhood experts will contribute to the discussion at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting held in Seattle, Washington, from April 18 to 20. Research findings from Mathematica’s notable early childhood studies can help policymakers identify and assess quality initiatives both in the United States and around the world. Conference highlights include timely and relevant research to help inform the policy discussion. Presentations will cover Mathematica’s latest research on Head Start and Early Head Start, which addresses children’s development and progress towards school readiness as well as family and program environment and quality. Experts will also discuss a wide range of research including evidence-based home visiting, universal preschool programs, dual language learners, child care quality measurement, child welfare, and parent engagement in culturally diverse populations.

Mathematica will share research on early childhood development and education interventions from its growing international portfolio at the SRCD preconference on interventions for children and youth in developing countries. Presentations include research on a program to encourage girls’ educational success in Burkina Faso and a case study on an intervention linking child care training and home visiting in Colombia. Mathematica staff will also introduce the newest Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey data (FACES 2009) in a data training workshop.

Mathematica is also proud to honor the achievements of former senior fellow John Love, winner of the SRCD 2013 Distinguished contributions to Public Policy for Children award. Dr. Love directed the groundbreaking evaluation of the Early Head Start program for 15 years, and served as a member of the DHHS Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation.

About Mathematica: Mathematica Policy Research seeks to improve public well-being by conducting studies and assisting clients with program evaluation and policy research, survey design and data collection, research assessment and interpretation and program performance/data management. Its clients include foundations, federal and state governments and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, NJ; Ann Arbor, MI; Cambridge, MA; Chicago, IL; Oakland, CA; and Washington, DC; has conducted some of the most important studies of early childhood, nutrition, education, international, disability, family support, employment, and health care policies and programs.