Institute for Child Success

48 initiatives and projects across 26 states. Over 26.5 million children served by the IMPACT Measures Tool. Over 500,000 children served through measurement & evaluation outreach. Over $886 million catalyzed in South Carolina alone. Explore our impact across the nation! The ICS Annual Report for 2023 has just been released. Learn more about how we help children and families thrive by empowering those who serve them: Early childhood practitioners, providers, policymakers, foundations, elected officials, and communities. We offer supports in the areas of early childhood policy research, measurement and evaluation, professional learning, strategic finance, and systems change. Read our recent blog to see the highlights from our 2023 Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/gh8bQxxS View our full interactive Annual Report here: https://lnkd.in/gDNKnBQb #earlychildhood #earlylearning #healthcare #pediatrics #communityhealth #payforsuccess #policy #research #measurement #evaluation #strategicfinance #professionaldevelopment #impact #socialimpact #nonprofit

As SOCAP24 comes to a close, we're reflecting on the power of this community. Take a look at some of the insightful things we heard from the #SOCAP24 stages on Day Three! • "This is where systems change can really begin and taken to be built in each of your communities in all parts of the world.” Jim Sorenson, Sorenson Impact Group • “Technology has to be in service of human potential. People need to remain the center and at the helm of the transformation, not the subject of the transformation.” Paula Goldman, Salesforce • “The way that ownership has worked is that it’s the driver of wealth because it has taken ownership from people and turned it into economic power. It’s time to bring that ownership back, not just for economic benefits but also for voice and power.” Brian Boland, Delta Fund • “Impact is making things that people need and that the world wants. That’s impact.” Ola Brown, HealthCap Africa • “Pipeline-building is everybody’s responsibility. … We are working to dispel the myth that the pipeline simply doesn’t exist.” Payal Pathak, Visa Foundation; “The pipeline exists. Just write the damn check.” Anjani Harjeven, WomHub • “Listen to the community, and what it is they are striving to do. Then show up with your best self to help them get to their desired outcome.” Kaitlin Watts, Institute for Child Success • “We can’t talk about AI without talking about bias. We have to be thoughtful about how this is going to potentially impact our kids who look and act differently.” Amanda Bickerstaff, AI for Education • “Capital finds its way to the people who are connected to the people with capital. … It is up to us to put ourselves in places where we aren’t the only ones — use your plus-one to bring others into the room.” Jill Johnson, Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) • “It shouldn’t be the land steward opening their wallet every time. … It really takes an ecosystem to regenerate an ecosystem.” Manuel Pinuela, PhD, Cultivo • “The health of nature should be linked to the strength of your economy. Destroy nature, destroy your economy. … Who owns nature? It owns us!” Martin Wainstein, Open Earth Foundation • “Ownership matters. … Together, what we can do to make this world whole — our land, our communities, our future. What would you build, if you could be whole?” Michael Hungerford, Seven Generations Capital • “You can call it whatever you want as long as you’re moving money into communities in need.” Greg Neichin, Ceniarth

🎂 New blog post! ICS Research Specialist Dr. Allison Kimble-Cusano, Ed.D. explores the question: "How is assessment development like baking a cake?" "Birthdays hold a special place in my family. As a busy mother of four, birthdays provide a chance to celebrate each of my children individually. They get to decide what we eat for dinner, who we celebrate with, and, of course, what kind of birthday cake will be served. Their choices range from homemade themed cakes to elaborate bakery creations, or even ice cream and donuts. Each year, before the smoke from the candles even clears, my children are already planning their next birthday cake. Clearly, my children take birthday cakes very seriously. Choosing a cake is a year-long process that evolves as they grow and develop. Their taste buds change with new learning or emerging interests and sometimes even the most well-planned celebrations don’t turn out the way we expected. As an early childhood researcher, practitioner, and statistician, I can’t help but see parallels between birthday cakes and the process of assessment development, validation, and standardization. Feeling confused? Let’s bake a cake together, and you’ll quickly understand what I mean...." https://lnkd.in/gsEsP67M

We are grateful to be supported by the Overdeck Family Foundation for our work supporting Reach Out and Read!

Congratulations Bryan Boroughs!

📣 Call for Proposals is now open! Join us on February 27, 2025, at the Desmond P. Kelly, MD Nurturing Developing Minds Conference & Research and Implementation Symposium. Our 3 tracks for this interdisciplinary event are: ✅ Autism, developmental disabilities, and neurodivergence ✅ Community innovations to support families and young children ✅ Supporting childhood development in clinical or classroom settings More info below on how to apply. #conference #NDM #Applynow #callforproposals #earlychildhood #publichealth #communityhealth

Deborah DePaoli and Citlaly Rojo from ICS's Advocacy team had the opportunity to travel to St. Louis for a convening hosted by the Southern Early Childhood Education Justice Network! This event provided an opportunity to learn about initiatives from other southern states aimed at enhancing early childhood education. Together, we explored strategies for advancing our collective work and fostering a unified agenda across the region. #earlyeducation #earlylearning #earlychildhood #advocacy

Last week we hosted our biennial Founders Luncheon to share exciting updates, celebrate our distinguished founders, and honor the contributions of The Honorable Merl F. Code with the launch of The ICS Merl Code Early Educators Fellowship. During the luncheon, Judge Code emphasized the critical role both his parents and his community had played during his earliest years and how that support impacted the trajectory of his life. Four distinguished educators were recognized as the inaugural cohort of Fellows: Dr. Steph N. Dean, Candice George, Jacob L. Mathis, and CaNihja Simon. We relished this opportunity to gather with our Founders, Board Members, partners, and supporters. See the event photos in our new blog post! https://lnkd.in/gqfrtXhx #founders #fellowship #nonprofit #earlychildhood

🌟 Meet the new ICS Merl Code Early Educators Fellows! 🌟 In September, ICS launched the inaugural cohort of ICS Honorable Merl F. Code Early Educators Fellowship to honor ICS Board Member Merl F. Code. This Fellowship highlights the importance of building and maintaining a robust pipeline of early career educators dedicated to the field of early childhood and improving child and family outcomes. We are excited about the impact on an area both central to the ICS mission and near and dear to Merl’s heart. Merl F. Code is Of Counsel in the Greenville law firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart, P.C. He is a municipal court judge in Greenville and the owner/president of several Upstate businesses. Merl’s parents, both educators, greatly influenced him. In addition to ICS and Furman University, Merl serves on several local boards. He proudly co-leads the Greenville Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Commission. Each year, ICS will honor early childhood educators in South Carolina identified as up and coming leaders, or those who are working in institutes of higher education, spearheading the training of future early educators. Code Fellows will receive mentorship, develop and communicate a research plan supporting young children, access a Fellowship alumni network, and receive a monetary award. The 2024 ICS Merl Code Early Educators Fellows: Steph N. Dean, PhD, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood & Elementary Science Education at Clemson University Candice George, Early Head Start Teacher Jacob L. Mathis, Physical Education Teacher CaNihja Simon, Childcare Specialist, SC First Steps, Family Voice Council Member https://lnkd.in/gq2RgBRQ #fellowship #earlychildhood #earlylearning #earlyeducator

What an honor and privilege to attend the Institute for Child Success Founders Luncheon yesterday! Four very deserving early childhood educators were acknowledged as the first cohort of the Honorable Merl Code Early Educators Fellowship. I was also proud of and excited for Judge Code. He is truly a pillar of this community. Thanks for the shoutout, now give this man his statue!