UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

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UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Advancing knowledge to transform children's lives.

"North Carolina is celebrated for its national leadership in building an early childhood system, but celebration alone i...
10/20/2026

"North Carolina is celebrated for its national leadership in building an early childhood system, but celebration alone is not enough. A system that has been influential for nearly four decades must now be judged not only by the programs it created, but also by whether those programs have equitably improved access, experiences, and outcomes for the children, families, communities, and workforce most affected by inequity."

FPG Equity Research Action Coalition Founding Director Iheoma Iruka's recent Education NC Perspective explores North Carolina's early childhood system and discusses the need to move beyond measuring its impact by availability and average outcomes, asking whether the system has repaired inequities in access, quality, experience, and opportunity for children, families, and communities who have been historically underserved.

Read the article: https://go.unc.edu/k3Y7J

To reach their full potential, children need high-quality health care and services—especially in life’s early years. Hea...
10/20/2026

To reach their full potential, children need high-quality health care and services—especially in life’s early years. Health promotion, safety, disease prevention, and early identification and treatment during these earliest years lay the foundation for healthy development.

Mounting evidence that health during childhood sets the stage for adult health creates an important ethical, social, and economic imperative to ensure that all children are as healthy as they can be. Healthy children are more likely to become healthy adults.

FPG's scientists study many aspects of child health and development—from prenatal health to infant brain development to stress management in adolescents.

Learn more: https://go.unc.edu/z3R7S

From advancing evidence-based practices to deepening our understanding of children and families, researchers, scientists...
10/19/2026

From advancing evidence-based practices to deepening our understanding of children and families, researchers, scientists, and specialists at FPG are continually turning knowledge into resources that make a difference. Through our projects and people, FPG shares timely, practical insights with parents, educators, policymakers, and other professionals who support children and families.

This latest publications roundup highlights a selection of recent work by FPG scientists, specialists, scholars, staff, and faculty fellows—spanning journal articles, reports, policy briefs, technical assistance guides, online learning publications, books, and more.

View the roundup: https://go.unc.edu/Cb5q4

Supporting individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism, as well as their caregivers and service providers...
10/16/2026

Supporting individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism, as well as their caregivers and service providers, is central to the work of FPG.

High-quality intervention across the age range can ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families fully participate in their community in ways that are meaningful to them. FPG investigators have identified central features of high-quality intervention, such as family-focused programming, early childhood inclusion, and the use of identified evidence-based practices.

Learn more: https://go.unc.edu/b6A4R

Paraeducators are often the heart of a school—and a new FPG-based project is helping put effective reading tools at thei...
10/15/2026

Paraeducators are often the heart of a school—and a new FPG-based project is helping put effective reading tools at their fingertips.

Led by FPG Advanced Research Scientist Heather Aiken, PhD, STAAR-TRI will combine professional development, coaching, and a digital reading app to help paraeducators and other school staff provide individualized literacy support to K–5 students who need it most.
The goal: stronger, more confident educators and more children who grow as readers and discover the joy of reading.

Learn more about how STAAR-TRI is working hand-in-hand with North Carolina schools: https://go.unc.edu/Tf68G

FPG Equity Research Action Coalition Founding Director Iheoma Iruka is speaking today at the 2026 EarlyWell Coalition Ga...
10/15/2026

FPG Equity Research Action Coalition Founding Director Iheoma Iruka is speaking today at the 2026 EarlyWell Coalition Gathering.

The EarlyWell Initiative is a statewide initiative led by the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) and NC Child, that brings together families, practitioners, advocates, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders to advance policies that support the social-emotional health and well-being of North Carolina's children prenatally through age eight and their caregivers.

Explore our areas of expertise: https://go.unc.edu/Ca4b6Our researchers, implementation and technical assistance special...
10/13/2026

Explore our areas of expertise: https://go.unc.edu/Ca4b6

Our researchers, implementation and technical assistance specialists, staff, and students work on projects related to developmental disabilities; physical, social, and emotional health; early care and education; early intervention and special education; disparities in education and learning; and more to address important issues facing children and families.

Our work spans many disciplines from education and psychology to social work and public health. We use the information gleaned from our research to enhance policy and improve practice; we are committed to sharing the information we generate with the public and to supporting professionals’ understanding and use of evidence-based practices.

FPG has welcomed two accomplished leaders, whose careers have centered on improving opportunities for children and famil...
10/12/2026

FPG has welcomed two accomplished leaders, whose careers have centered on improving opportunities for children and families, to its External Advisory Board. In a Q&A, Khari Garvin and Kent Mitchell discuss what drew them to FPG and the perspectives they will bring to the board.

Read the Q&A: https://go.unc.edu/Bo7q6

FPG Equity Research Action Coalition Founding Director Iheoma Iruka, PhD, has been named to the Brookings Task Force on ...
10/10/2026

FPG Equity Research Action Coalition Founding Director Iheoma Iruka, PhD, has been named to the Brookings Task Force on AI and Early Childhood Development (Birth to Age Eight).

This Task Force is part of the Brookings Institution’s Generation AI Starts Early initiative and builds on the learnings of Brookings’ first Task Force on AI in Education, which focused on older children.

What changes when students have a meaningful voice in the programs and practices that affect them? They can help schools...
10/09/2026

What changes when students have a meaningful voice in the programs and practices that affect them? They can help schools identify what is working, address barriers, and build approaches that are more responsive and sustainable. Our latest FPG Voices feature shares three practical strategies from FPG’s National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) for engaging students throughout the implementation journey.

Learn more: https://go.unc.edu/De48R

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