May 2016

Translating the Science of Early Adversity for Action

Nat Kendall-Taylor, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer

Finding Your Frame

1

Why Does Framing Matter?

What Do We Know About Reframing Child Development and Adversity?

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Why Does Framing Matter?

What Do We Know About Reframing Child Development and Adversity?

2

* **

Because Understanding is Frame Dependent

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Support for Child Mental Health Policies

Prosperity Ingenuity Prevention Vulnerability-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

* **

Values

Perc

ent C

hang

e vs

. Con

trol

Because Understanding is Frame Dependent

3

Support for Child Mental Health Policies

Prosperity Ingenuity Prevention Vulnerability-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

* **

Values

Perc

ent C

hang

e vs

. Con

trol

* = P<.01

Because Understanding is Frame Dependent

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ThinkingCommunication Discourse Policy

Because Frames Can Help Make Change

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Changes in Communication

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Changes in Discourse

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2002 2011Only 42% understood that infants can communicate before they learn to speak.

Public unsure whether babies’ cries were ‘conscious manipulation’ or expressions of genuine need.

85% understood that for infants, cries and signals indicate a genuine need for adult attention.

96% understood that infants can communicate before they learn to speak.

Changes in Thinking

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CALIFORNIA SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION ASKING GOV TO LOOK AT INTERVENTION POLICIES TO ALLEVIATE “TOXIC STRESS” IN CHILDREN

Changes in Policy

H.R. 1429: Head Start Reauthorization of 2007 “train Head Start personnel in addressing the unique needs of … children and families experiencing toxic stress.”

Early Head Start University Partnership Grants: Buffering Children from Toxic Stress (July 2011)“grant projects to promote knowledge of how Early Head Start programs can buffer children from the effects of toxic stress by supporting parenting/caregiving”

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Because You Have a Problem

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Expert/Advocate Public

AAA BBB

You Say...They Think

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Expert/Advocate Public

The environments that young children are exposed shape how they do throughout childhood and even as adults. Environments and experiences matter. What do you think shapes how kids turn out and why some do well and others don’t?

You Say...They Think

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Expert/Advocate Public

The environments that young children are exposed shape how they do throughout childhood and even as adults. Environments and experiences matter. What do you think shapes how kids turn out and why some do well and others don’t?

You Say...They Think

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Expert/Advocate Public

Responsibility for making sure that children have positive development is spread across m u l t i p l e s y s t e m s - - t h e r e ’s e d u ca t i o n , healthcare, child protection, mental health, housing... But we also know that families play a really important part of this process. Who do you think is responsible for our children’s development?

You Say...They Think

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Expert/Advocate Public

Responsibility for making sure that children have positive development is spread across m u l t i p l e s y s t e m s - - t h e r e ’s e d u ca t i o n , healthcare, child protection, mental health, housing... But we also know that families play a really important part of this process. Who do you think is responsible for our children’s development?

You Say...They Think

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What People Do When They’re in This Position

• Provide (more) data

• Meet them where they are

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Epiphany

Providing more data is not the answer

More EvidenceNumerical DataCharts, Graphs,

Tables,More Data

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Epiphany

Providing more data is not the answer

More EvidenceNumerical DataCharts, Graphs,

Tables,More Data

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Meeting them where they are

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Meeting them where they areis NOT the answer

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Who is responsible for making sure that families have childcare?: -73% parents -17% government -10% employers

What are the most serious problems that children face?: -85% say "parents not paying enough attention to what's going on in their children's lives"

In a Poll on Early Childhood Development...

Parents Are Responsible

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Who is responsible for making sure that families have childcare?: -73% parents -17% government -10% employers

What are the most serious problems that children face?: -85% say "parents not paying enough attention to what's going on in their children's lives"

In a Poll on Early Childhood Development...

Parents Are Responsible

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Problems With Focusing on Parents

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Advocate Public

Context is key part of explaining why some kids do well and others do not.

???

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Advocate Public

Context is key part of explaining why some kids do well and others do not.

???CULTURE!

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Strategic Communications =

Knowing What You’re Up Against+

Using Empirically Tested Tools to Navigate

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Why Does Framing Matter?

What Do We Know About Reframing Child Development and Adversity?

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What Do We Know About Reframing Child Development and Adversity?

3 Framing Recommendations

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Framing Recommendation #1:Explain how things work to make people

better solutions thinkers

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Makes something that is hard to understand easier to understand, by comparing it to something concrete and familiar

The Explanatory Metaphor

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Brain Development Building/Architecture

≈

Brain Architecture

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Fill in Understanding to Expand Thinking

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Framing Recommendation #2:Urgency is not enough; You need solutions

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Hi Urgency

Low Urgency

Hi EfficacyLow Efficacy

The Problem with Problems

Baseline

Low Motivation

Fatalism Magic29

Framing Recommendation #3:?????

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We think in story

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Framing Recommendation #3:We think in story...always tell a story

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Understand What You’re Up Against and...

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Frame On!

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