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/