Getting to Know Your International Contacts: Part 2

     I was unable to make any connections or communications with my international contact this week; therefore I choose to visit the Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/). This website was very interesting in regard to learning about ways in which child development is viewed on a global level and how these very delicate issues are being accounted for that is vastly different from those of the United States.

     Three insights and issues that I learned from the website is:

1.    Early childhood Development

2.     Mental Health

3.     Children in Crisis and Conflict Situations

     Early childhood development: "The first priority in this area is to adapt the successful work the Center has conducted in the United States for a broader range of strategically selected audiences, in an effort to energize and reframe the global dialogue around investments in the earliest years of life. To this end, we plan to educate the leadership of key international agencies, publish and disseminate papers to establishing strong scientific framework for global work, and conduct systematic communications research to identify the most effective ways to translate the science of child development for global policymakers".

     Mental health: "concerns constitute a massively under-addressed issue that has significant implications for the broader health and development of children and societies. There is an urgent need to identify the scope of the problem within and across countries and to develop evidence-based approaches in policy and service delivery that are responsive to diverse cultural context"s.

     Children in Crisis and conflict situations: "The goal of this effort is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that incorporates a science-based, developmental perspective into the assessment and management of Child well-being in a range of natural and man-made crises, focusing on both immediate circumstances and long-term adaptation". (Global Children’s Initiative)

      I believe that all three of these initiatives are vital to the growth and development of children and  families of third world countries. Taking note and following in the footsteps of the United States, who are leading the way in early childhood development. Mental health issues are prevalent in the United States, but, in a country where eating one meal a day is the priority, mental health is not at the top of the list. Children in crisis and conflict situations are unfortunate situations, but true. Children who are victims of war or natural disasters suffer greatly with social/emotional issues. I think it’s a commendable act to help these very young children.

References

“Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/