Vol 42 No 4 The Transformative Power of Relationships in Supporting Children, Families, and Early Childhood Professionals

“How you are is as important as what you do” is a guiding principle at ZERO TO THREE, and the legacy of Jeree Pawl, Past President of the Board, and renowned leader in the field of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). This issue of the Journal shines a spotlight on the quality of relationships as the vehicle through which this guiding principle is put into action. Notably, it is not just one’s actions that determine relationship quality, but also “ways of being” —such as the beliefs and attitudes one holds, the ability to cultivate empathy and curiosity, and to observe with careful attention. The articles in this issue explore what it takes to consistently and effectively put relationships—and ways of being—at the center of individual practice, organizations, collaborations, and early childhood systems and policies.

Neuroscience has taught us that babies are born wired to form relationships, and what happens in the earliest years of life makes a lasting difference. ZERO TO THREE’s new podcast series, The Earliest, takes a deeply personal look at one new mother’s experience over the course of pregnancy, delivery, and her child’s first year. The series unpacks what mental health means for parents and babies at this crucial transition period in early parenthood, how the critical bonds between parent and child are formed, and why strong, nurturing relationships early in life are so important. Listen and subscribe at https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/4381-the-earliest-a-new-podcast-from-zero-to-three.

Also of interest are ZERO TO THREE’s Virtual Events (free to members at https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/virtual-events) including a 4-part series on IECMH currently in progress: (1) The Psychology of Pregnancy and Early Parenthood, (2) Neuro-relational Development, (3) Foundations and Theoretical Perspectives in IECMH, and (4) Reflective Supervision and Consultation. Together, these presentations offer a deep dive into IECMH theory and practice.

We hope this issue and the related resources from ZERO TO THREE provide you with insight and inspiration, and leave you motivated to explore ways to advocate for the supports and services that families with young children need to thrive. Our newly released State of Babies Yearbook: 2022 https://stateofbabies.org makes clear that this is an urgent time for strengthening the systems and policies that improve the lives of young children and their families, and provides tools and resources to join our efforts to ensure that every baby has a strong start in life.

Please consider writing a Letter to the Editor http://s.alchemer.com/s3/ZERO-TO-THREE-Journal-Letters-to-the-Editor and sharing your thoughts about the articles in this issue, or your ideas for future issues—I’d love to hear from you!

Stefanie Powers, Editor-in-Chief spowers@zerotothree.org

Suggested Citation

Powers S. (2022). This issue and why it matters. ZERO TO THREE Journal, 42(4), 2.

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