Leveraging Windows of Opportunity in Early Childhood and Adolescence for Systems-Level Change

Our goals for this session aim at a translational bridge - from actionable insights into sensitive periods of learning, to strategies for improving practices, policies, and organizational systems that support children and adolescents. We describe a framework, some key principles, and promising approaches. We highlight the need for interdisciplinary teams, working together, to advance testable hypotheses at the systems and policy level.

To unpack some of the key principles and consider this framework in more depth, we examine two (contrasting) developmental windows: early childhood and adolescence. Each window represents: a) a period of rapid growth and physical development; b) a period of formative social and relational learning; c) a period of vulnerabilities (when negative experiences can impact multiple long-term outcomes); and d) a time of opportunities, when investing in supporting positive learning and development can improve long-term physical and mental health, as well as educational, social, and economic success.

Yet, the challenges to effectively leverage these insights for social impact also reveal sharp contrasts. That is, actionable insights about how to scaffold and support healthy social and relational learning experiences change dramatically across development. A more integrative understanding of these opportunities holds great promise.

In this session, Dr. Bridges will provide some illustrative examples of these points focusing on how family and preschool relational learning influences social and emotional development (and more broadly, can impact multiple outcomes).

Dr. Dahl will provide more in-depth description of social learning during the transition into adolescence, and some promising approaches to leveraging adolescence as a second window of vulnerability and opportunity for social and relational learning.

Drs. Fernald and Ozer will then provide some commentary and insights from their own research and perspectives. This will be followed by open discussion and consideration of promising paths forward - advancing scientific understanding and its social impact.

Panelist:Ron Dahl, MD, Professor of Community Health Sciences, Berkeley Public Health

Panelist:Margaret Bridges, PhD, Research Scientist, Institute of Human Development

Panelist: Lia Fernald, PhD, Professor of Community Health Sciences, Berkeley Public Health

Panelist: Emily Ozer, PhD, Professor and Director, Institute of Human Development