Ensure a Strong Start for Children

A child’s relationship with others inside and outside the family plays a role in healthy brain development, as well as in the development of physical, emotional, social, behavioral, and intellectual capacities.26,27 Parents may struggle to provide the care and nurturing necessary for children to develop these capacities and thrive for a number of reasons, including health, substance misuse, mental health, financial issues, or access to resources or support. Early childhood home visitation can prevent ACEs by providing information, caregiver support, and training about child health, development, and care to families in their homes to build a safe, stable, nurturing and supportive home environment.26-28 High-quality childcare and preschool enrichment programs with family engagement26-28 help children build a strong foundation for future learning and opportunity by improving their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development, language and literacy skills, and school readiness. These approaches also help by strengthening connections between home and school environments, and can be especially beneficial to economically disadvantaged children who may not have educational resources at home or the support to help them learn and thrive