May DHS lecture examines the “real cost” of child welfare for Oklahoma infants and toddlers
News Release
The first three years of a child’s life is when the most rapid brain development takes place. Their experiences during that time give children either a unique opportunity to thrive or place them in a position of vulnerability.
That is the topic of the final installment of the Spring Lecture Series presented by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). “Making the Invisible Visible: The Real Cost of Child Welfare for Infants and Toddlers in Oklahoma” will be held Tuesday, May 10 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Statistics show infants and toddlers are the largest single group of children entering foster care nationally. In Oklahoma more than 30 percent of the state’s child victims of abuse and neglect are under the age of three. For those children, the threat arises at a crucial time in life when early experiences and interactions are shaping the brain’s architecture—the very foundation for learning, health and future success.
This lecture examines the real cost of child welfare, both for families and for society as a whole. Guest speaker will be Janice Im, Chief Program Officer for Zero to Three, a national nonprofit organization providing parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.
The Practice and Policy Lecture Series has been developed to provide thought-provoking presentations on Oklahoma's emerging policy issues, trends and best practices. The series is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Office of Planning, Research and Statistics and the University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management with the goal of providing the best educational opportunities available in a forum that offers participants an opportunity to question, share and learn from each other. Register to attend by phoning (405) 521-3552.
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