Commons Lounge Discussion

Hi Everyone, I am so pleased that SRCD has set this up. My name is Iheoma Iruka and I serve as the research officer and director of the research unit at HighScope. HighScope is a research-practice organization know for one of the oldest early intervention -- Perry Preschool. As a developmental psychologist, my focus is on how research can be used to guide effective and culturally-informed practices and policies, especially for marginalized communities. I think it is important to understand how COVID-19 is impacting children's learning and development, as well as families' economic stability and mental health.  However, we need research that can shed light on policy implications. What can developmental science research tell us about policies needed to effectively support the optimal development and health of children and families, especially during a global pandemic? For example, are there subgroups of children and families that should be prioritized and supported before calamities like COVID-19 become reality? What are the necessary ingredients for resilience and optimal health, and what policies and systems need to be in place to ensure these outcomes? These are critical information to guide us during and after COVID-19.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts. In health and wellness...

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Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka
HighScope Educational Research Foundation
iiruka@highscope.org
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This is something my colleagues and I have been thinking about. NSF actually is requesting RAPID proposals to investigate how the current crisis is affecting cognition, development, stress, etc. We're working on a proposal. I don't know how many others are, but I imagine a few!

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Josh Hartshorne
Boston College
Chestnut Hill MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2020 14:00
From: Iheoma Iruka
Subject: Research-to-Action is critical

Hi Everyone, I am so pleased that SRCD has set this up. My name is Iheoma Iruka and I serve as the research officer and director of the research unit at HighScope. HighScope is a research-practice organization know for one of the oldest early intervention -- Perry Preschool. As a developmental psychologist, my focus is on how research can be used to guide effective and culturally-informed practices and policies, especially for marginalized communities. I think it is important to understand how COVID-19 is impacting children's learning and development, as well as families' economic stability and mental health.  However, we need research that can shed light on policy implications. What can developmental science research tell us about policies needed to effectively support the optimal development and health of children and families, especially during a global pandemic? For example, are there subgroups of children and families that should be prioritized and supported before calamities like COVID-19 become reality? What are the necessary ingredients for resilience and optimal health, and what policies and systems need to be in place to ensure these outcomes? These are critical information to guide us during and after COVID-19.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts. In health and wellness...

------------------------------
Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka
HighScope Educational Research Foundation
iiruka@highscope.org
------------------------------

This is good to know, Josh. For me specifically, I am interested in understanding who is particularly resilient to this crisis. For example, are marginalized communities more resilient in some ways because they are often not provided with the basic security and resources or the opposite? Is the feeling of stress temporary for children and parents or does it continue even after we say the crisis is over? Good luck to you and the team on your submission.

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Iheoma Iruka
Dr.
HighScope
Ypsilanti MI
305-332-2075
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-27-2020 13:18
From: Josh Hartshorne
Subject: Research-to-Action is critical

This is something my colleagues and I have been thinking about. NSF actually is requesting RAPID proposals to investigate how the current crisis is affecting cognition, development, stress, etc. We're working on a proposal. I don't know how many others are, but I imagine a few!

------------------------------
Josh Hartshorne
Boston College
Chestnut Hill MA

Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2020 14:00
From: Iheoma Iruka
Subject: Research-to-Action is critical

Hi Everyone, I am so pleased that SRCD has set this up. My name is Iheoma Iruka and I serve as the research officer and director of the research unit at HighScope. HighScope is a research-practice organization know for one of the oldest early intervention -- Perry Preschool. As a developmental psychologist, my focus is on how research can be used to guide effective and culturally-informed practices and policies, especially for marginalized communities. I think it is important to understand how COVID-19 is impacting children's learning and development, as well as families' economic stability and mental health.  However, we need research that can shed light on policy implications. What can developmental science research tell us about policies needed to effectively support the optimal development and health of children and families, especially during a global pandemic? For example, are there subgroups of children and families that should be prioritized and supported before calamities like COVID-19 become reality? What are the necessary ingredients for resilience and optimal health, and what policies and systems need to be in place to ensure these outcomes? These are critical information to guide us during and after COVID-19.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts. In health and wellness...

------------------------------
Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka
HighScope Educational Research Foundation
iiruka@highscope.org
------------------------------