Early Matters
Early Matters is the podcast of the Center on Child and Family Policy, exploring the science and policy of early childhood. Hosted by Dr. Katharine Stevens, the show features engaging, in-depth conversations with a diverse range of leading researchers, practitioners, and policy experts on what matters most to help young children and their families thrive.
The Center on Child and Family Policy (CCFP) is a non-partisan think tank based in Washington DC, dedicated to advancing science-driven policy that gives every child the strongest start possible. Visit our website at www.ccfp.org and join the conversation on Twitter: @_CCFP and @kbstevens.
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Episodes
14 episodes
Empowering Parents with Tech: How SC Revolutionized Access to Early Childhood Services (with Georgia Mjartan)
Georgia Mjartan joined Early Matters to highlight First Five SC, a pioneering, tech-driven solution transforming how parents in South Carolina access essential services for children under five. Developed by South Carolina First Steps under Geor...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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45:34
Why We Need A “GI Bill for Homemakers” (with Ivana Greco)
Ivana Greco joined the podcast to discuss her proposal for a "GI Bill for Homemakers," targeting mothers and fathers who dedicate themselves to the crucial work of home and community. She compares the career trajectories of Supreme Court...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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30:31
Child Care: What Parents Want — What Children Need (with Jenet Erickson)
Leading family researcher Jenet Erickson joined Early Matters to discuss the complex role of childcare in child, maternal, and family well-being. Erickson describes the evolving landscape of work and family life, with important shifts ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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47:28
The Miracle of Language: How Parents Build Babies' Brains (with Dana Suskind)
Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric surgeon and early childhood expert, discusses the transformative power of nurturing language environments in children's development and the vital role parents play as architects of their children’s brains. Highligh...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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53:00
Why Homemakers Matter (with Ivana Greco)
SummaryKatharine talks with Ivana Greco about her unusual path from successful, Harvard-educated attorney to full-time "stay-at-home mom," caring for her toddler and homeschooling her two young sons. Their conversation illuminates th...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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56:21
The Crucial Role of Nurturing Care in Early Childhood (with Phil Fisher)
Dr. Phil Fisher discusses his pioneering work on the effects of early stressful experiences on young children’s development. He explains the importance of responsive and sensitive care in early childhood, and how an absence of nurturing care ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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52:42
“The Brain Development Revolution”: Early Childhood and Public Policy (with Ross Thompson)
Ross Thompson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of California, Davis joins Early Matters to discuss his decades of research in early development, and his new book, The Brain Development Revolution: Science, t...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:04:23
Capita’s Approach to Advancing Child and Family Flourishing (with Joe Waters)
Katharine Stevens is joined by Joe Waters, co-founder and CEO of Capita, to discuss Capita's origins and work to improve the lives of children and families. Waters emphasized the need for a holistic approach to early childhood policy that takes...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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35:17
Why Marriage Matters for Family and Child Well-Being (with Brad Wilcox)
Katharine Stevens is joined by Brad Wilcox, a leading family policy expert, to discuss the role of marriage in family strength and wellbeing. Professor Wilcox argues that children growing up with married parents are more likely to flouris...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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50:04
Building a Roadmap for Prenatal-to-3 State Policy (with Cynthia Osborne)
Dr. Cynthia Osborne discusses the work of the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, which focuses on building the evidence base for effective state policies to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families. Dr. Osborne e...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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52:01
Empowering Parents and Scaling Preschool Success (with Art Rolnick)
Katharine Stevens interviews economist Arthur Rolnick, former senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis, about his longstanding work with the Minnesota Early Learning Scholarships (MELS) program. Launc...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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42:43
How Early Childhood is the Foundation of Social Capital (with Chris Bullivant)
Katharine Stevens interviews Chris Bullivant about the importance of social capital to a thriving society and his fascinating new report, The Early Years. The report emphasizes the crucial role of early nurturing care in building socia...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:12:46
Parenting Is the Key to Early Development and Social Mobility — PART 2 (with James Heckman and Jorge Luis Garcia)
In the second part of this two-part discussion, Katharine Stevens continues her conversation with economists James Heckman and Jorge Luis Garcia about their pioneering research on how improving parenting is the essential mechanism of effective ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:00:02
Parenting Is the Key to Early Development and Social Mobility — PART 1 (with James Heckman and Jorge Luis Garcia)
In this inaugural episode of the Center on Child and Family Policy's new podcast, Katharine Stevens interviews renowned economists James Heckman and Jorge Luis Garcia about their collaborative research on the transformational power of early chi...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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56:43