Early Childhood Advocates Share Vision for 0 - 3 Stage of Life

In photo above (l-r): Lillian Berdichevsk, MD, with Westmed Medical Group; Maris Krasnow, board member with Westchester Children's Association;Kate Breslin, President and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy; Matthew Melmed, JD; Umran Beba, Global Diversity, Engagement and Talent Officer at Pepsico; Farhad Ameen, PhD and Professor of Economics at Westchester Community College

Over 150 social workers, educators, health practitioners and advocates gathered at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Tarrytown to learn new methods and share best practices on the crucial time in a child’s life, which is zero to age three. Westchester Children’s Association hosted the event, which included their annual advocacy breakfast, but this year extended to a full-day conference on Tuesday, October 16. Matthew Melmed, JD, Executive Director of ZERO TO THREE, an organization that promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers, started the day by delivering the Kathryn W. Davis Advocacy Address.

Dr. Melmed’s talk focused on the critical importance of the zero to age 3 stage of life in the social and emotional development of a child. A panel discussion followed and included Farhad Ameen, PhD and Professor of Economics at Westchester Community College; Umran Beba, Global Diversity, Engagement and Talent Officer at Pepsico; Lillian Berdichevsky, MD, an Ob/Gyn with Westmed Medical Group: and Kate Breslin, President and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.

Dr. Ameen wanted attendees to understand that, “Investing in 0-3 more than pays off in the long run due to the decreased spending in later years on high ticket items such as remedial education and criminal justice systems. It is not only the right thing to do, it is the economically efficient thing to do.”

Kate Breslin drew attention to the collective impact model, stating, “Kids don’t exist separately from their parents. If mom has untreated depression, it has a tremendous impact on her kids.” Collective impact brings together all the actors that impact a child’s life to work toward a goal, rather thanfocusing on individual parts of the situation.

Allison Lake, Executive Director of Westchester Children’s Association said that Dr. Melmed's work in the 0 to 3 stage of life is critical. She went on to say, “We were thrilled to have Dr. Melmed as our keynote speaker. All our panelists offered unique perspectives, which I believe helped attendees to see the big picture, and the idea that there is a role for all of us to play in creating solutions. There is much more still to learn and WCA will continue to focus on this very important stage of life for our children." WCA will release a follow-up report highlighting recommendations from the innovative working sessions which will inform the agency’s action plan.

To find out more about the needs of Westchester’s children, view WCA’s latest series of Community Snapshots, which present data that impact a child’s life, as compared by Westchester County school districts.