First 1,000 days – a critical time for children’s brain development

Research shows that 80 percent of a child’s brain development occurs within the first 1,000 days of life – making those three years important for lifelong health, learning, and success.

But children are uniquely vulnerable during this period to the negative impacts of toxic stress on both their physical and mental well-being. To address these challenges, M Health Fairview’s expert care teams in the M Health Fairview Birth to Three and Early Childhood Mental Health programs work closely with researchers from the University of Minnesota to transform leading-edge findings into responsive clinical care. Together, specialists across several disciplines identify challenges and partner with families during the first years of a child’s life to reduce the impact of negative or stressful experiences.

The clinical and academic partnership at the heart of these programs will grow even stronger with the opening of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) this fall. Most M Health Fairview pediatric behavioral, developmental, and mental healthcare services – including the Birth to Three and Early Childhood Mental Health programs – will move to the new facility. This will create a “one-stop shop” that brings together clinical care, research, and advocacy to prioritize childhood development through leading-edge support.

Discovering how to protect children from early stress

Pediatric Psychologist Maria Kroupina, PhD, who leads the M Health Fairview Birth to Three Program, has seen firsthand the power of collaboration between researchers and clinicians.

The Birth to Three clinic was founded based on leading-edge research in early brain development, including the role of toxic stress and the importance of family dynamics. The first three years are the most rapid period of development in a person’s life, and also when the brain is at its most flexible.

“Our program is designed to bring research into the clinic as quickly as possible,” said Kroupina. “The most up-to-date findings on brain development guide us as we put interventions and assessments together. The Birth to Three Program also furthers scientific understanding by providing firsthand insight back to researchers.”

Kroupina often works with children who were born with complex medical conditions. Long hospital stays, procedures, and disrupted family time can be tough for infants. Young kids can also be negatively affected by an unstable home environment or unsupported relationships. A healthy relationship is expected – and needed – for learning. When this isn’t present, it can harm the brain’s development.