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Executive Function in
Practice and Policy
AL RACE
Deputy Director
Director, Communications and Public Engagement
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
AMANDA SZEKELY
Senior Policy Analyst
National Governors Assocation Center for Best Practices
Birth to Five Policy Alliance New Orleans, LA | October 11, 2012
WA Cross-Agency Work Group
The First Challenge: Communicating What Executive Function Is
Prefrontal Cortex
Amygdala
Thalamus
Orbitofrontal Cortex
Basal Ganglia
Hypothalamus
Anterior Cingulate Cortex
An Air Traffic Control System in the Brain
Executive functioning is group of skills that help us to focus on multiple streams of information at the same time, set goals and make plans, make decisions in light of available information, revise plans, and resist hasty actions.
a key biological foundation of school readiness
What are Executive Function Skills?
Inhibitory Control — filter thoughts and impulses to resist temptations and distractions
Mental flexibility — adjust to changed demands, priorities, or perspectives
Working Memory — hold and manipulate information in our heads over short periods of time
When Do Executive Function Skills Develop?
Weintraub, et al., (2011)
Birth
Age (Years)
50 70 80
Skill pro
ficie
ncy
3 5 15 25 30 10
Public Health Tobacco cessation program Consultation with local health jurisdictions
How Executive Function Is Being Applied Across Multiple Agencies
Economic Services Administration WorkFirst assessment redesign
Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Building adolescent executive function through mindfulness training
Training for Managers mid-level managers in Economic Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, Children’s Administration, Aging & Disability Services
Medicaid Incorporate EF information into contractually obligated training for managed care organizations
Department of Early Learning
Early Learning Guidelines
Introductory Text on Executive Function
Expanded developmental indicators with focus on Executive Function
Strategies for Caregivers and Parents
Professional Development
Online Module on Executive Function Ages 0-8
Incorporates video of experts, caregivers, and children in ECE centers
QRIS Coaches, Trainers of ECE teachers
Childhaven and Children’s Home Society of Washington
Co-creation and weekly collaboration with researchers: initial focus on games
Building EF capacities in children and
caregivers combined with strategies for reducing toxic stress in families
Department of Early Learning
Pilot Sites
Assessment Consultation with researchers on implementing EF assessment tools from
NIH Toolbox
10
11
12
13
DEL Professional Development Module
http://www.deltraining.com/courses/
Executive_Function/content-frame.htm
Resources for Understanding and
Communicating Executive Function
Working Paper
2-page “InBrief” Handout
5-minute “InBrief” Video
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/
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