Cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development are critical elements of a child’s school and life readiness. Many future learning milestones are impacted by health outcomes and behaviors that occur before birth and during these critical first two years of a child’s life. When it comes to addressing early childhood outcomes and a child and new family's development, prenatal and pediatric visits are the only setting that reaches nearly every mother and child birth to 3. Centering Healthcare Institute's programs have demonstrated a powerful ability to decrease health disparities for both the mother and the child and spark parental behavior change.
The healthcare visit, a nearly universal exposure in pregnancy and early childhood, is an opportunity to provide parents with the knowledge and skills to support their child and family’s health and is a significant entry point for promoting optimal child development.