Provocative new research showing a link between children's IQ scores and their families' socio-economic status offers scientific support for the view that reducing poverty will help kids succeed. Connect for Kids' Jan Richter interviewed lead researcher Eric Turkheimer to learn more.

A new survey by the National League of Cities shows that child care and early childhood education are high on the agenda for city leaders. That heightened attention to the early years also has some mayors worried about Bush administration efforts to change Head Start.

Mounting research affirms that the greatest window of opportunity to influence child development is during the first years of life, so early identification of young children with disabilities or developmental delays is critical. The Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Web site has information for parents and caregivers--and is looking for ideas and resources that may help states or communities enhance the quality of their identification systems and public awareness activities.

There is growing recognition that in youth development programs, like many other endeavors, quality counts -- but it also costs. The Forum For Youth Investment's journal, Forum Focus, summarizes the research and examines the components of high-quality supportive settings, and how to measure quality from the perspective of what young people need to heal, grow and contribute.

Eli Newberger, author of The Men They Will Become: The Nature and Nurture of Male Character, is a pediatrician, teacher, and musician. He invites you to explore the developmental processes of young boys.

Head Start programs and an uncertain fate for an Emmy award-winning Reading Raindow are a few of the recent stories from Connect for Kids that drew reader responses. See what everyone had to say, and feel free to join the conversation.

When people who concentrate on the bottom line call for more public investment in early childhood development programs because they offer the greatest economic return for the money, child advocates should pay close attention. This Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis analysis argues that most of the projects and initiatives that state and local governments fund in the name of creating new jobs result in few public benefits, but dollars invested in early childhood yield extraordinary public returns.

There is little point in beginning intensive toilet training before a child reaches 27 months, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Researchers found that if parents started earlier asking a child to use the toilet more than three times a day, training took longer.

This website provides studies, editorials and reviews on the subjects of child and adolescent development, disease prevention and health promotion. Such research and studies include the impact of managed care policies on patient freedom, especially for minority children.

This website primarily focuses on providing aid to families with special needs children, through the use of training programs, community outreach and public policy. Such public policy includes addressing the health and development services foster care children need.