It is increasingly recognized that a child’s first years have life-long implications for both the individual and broader society. To further understand how early childhood experiences shape life-long outcomes, the Georgia Health Policy Center’s Center of Excellence For Children’s Behavioral Health (COE) is screening the five-part documentary series The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation. Blending individual family’s personal stories with emerging scientific research on the role that early childhood environment plays in neurocognitive development, the film series and associated discussions highlight the importance of early childhood interventions, particularly for at-risk families, to ensure positive, long-term outcomes.
The Raising of America series is produced by California Newsreel, the country’s oldest nonprofit documentary production organization, in conjunction with Vital Pictures. The producers say the goal of the documentary is to spark discussion and recognition that a “strong start” is imperative for all kids and failure to provide interventions for a healthy start has repercussions not just for the individual, but for the health and future prosperity of the country.
“When I initially saw the film, I was impressed by how a diverse audience—professionals who work directly and indirectly in the area of child development as well as mothers and grandmothers—could all find something to relate to,” says Colleen Smith, a research associate with the COE team. “The series provides an interesting way to bring people together to engage in dialogue.”
To inform Raising of America, California Newsreel first conducted an environmental scan and needs assessment to identify content priorities. A review of the scientific evidence demonstrated how experiences in the first years of life influence life-long physical, emotional and cognitive health. As a result, public policy interventions and grassroots efforts early in a child’s life can have the greatest impact on later-in-life outcomes. Raising of America consists of a one-hour centerpiece episode and four supporting installments (30 to 40 minutes each) that explore both personal experiences of facing a challenging early childhood environment and scientific evidence of its long-term consequences, as well as policies and finances shaping early childhood development efforts.
“The conventional default explanations of child development—“good” versus “bad” parents, genetics and cultural dysfunction—still predominate,” the producers say. “Perhaps not coincidentally, little progress has been made in improving outcomes for America’s children.”
Raising of America has been screened by more than 500 organizations to date. COE will continue screening the remaining episodes for GHPC staff and its Interagency Director’s Team of stakeholder partners. Additionally, COE has also been selected to screen Raising of America at the 2015 Georgia Conference on Children and Families (Augusta, Ga.; Oct. 21-23), as well as facilitate an expert panel and discussion after the screening. The conference is the largest annual, multidisciplinary event in Georgia to bring together stakeholders that serve children and families. The national public television broadcast of the Raising of America series will begin Nov. 1.
Should you have missed the screenings and want more information, please contact COE’s Colleen Smith. For more information about the film series, please visit www.raisingofamerica.org.
Watch the trailer: http://raisingofamerica.org/watch