Early Childhood Impact Fund: upWORDS Early Literacy and Brain Development

Project Description

The upWORDS program is a 15-week early language development program offered universally to families with children 0-3 years of age. It is a part of the upWORDS Community Model, a tiered framework in which universal and targeted interventions work in tandem to achieve goals of supporting early brain development and reducing developmental disparities in Harris County. The Community Model also provides training to 6,000 professionals who work with young children on topics including early brain and language development and positive parenting. Their initiatives include language development programs, home visitation for new moms, developmental pediatrics for identified children, programming for children exhibiting speech and language delays, extended parent training, care coordination, training for early care professionals, and providing families with kits containing educational resources.

PRIMARY PARTNERSHIPS

SECONDARY PARTNERS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Texting past participants of upWORDS
  • Applying to present at local and regional conferences that target early childhood education professionals
  • Reaching out to our network of community partners to offer trainings on early brain development, upWORDS classes, and to distribute upWORDS recruitment materials
  • Distribution of 20,000 Welcome Baby Bags and FLIP Keep It Kits through partner organizations working directly with families, which includes recruitment information on upWORDS

TARGET IMPACT

Target Goals

  • Improvements in nurturing and responsive parent-child relationships
  • Attachment, executive functioning, and language development; access to needed services
  • Childhood health and development
  • Parental health and emotional well-being
  • Reductions in adverse childhood experiences

WEBSITE LINK

USE OF EVIDENCE & PROGRAM EVALUATIONS

Researchers have found that babies born during the pandemic have worse outcomes than those born pre- pandemic. This is largely due to lack of exposure to early learning opportunities during this time, as well as higher rates of parental stress. Texas Children’s Hospital will implement its program to reach parents of young children and their families in ways that target both elements, especially focusing on low-income communities.

The RAND Policy Research Corporation will be evaluating Early Childhood Impact Fund investments, including upWORDS.