At-risk infants need our attention now more than ever
There is no group in our community that needs our attention more than at-risk infants. The first two years of life are critical to the health and well-being of a human being. Besides being totally dependent on caregivers for survival, this period is the most critical for brain development, with 80% of brain growth during this stage of life.
Unfortunately, the highest percentage of children entering the child welfare system are infants, those less than two years of age. These infants are usually from families under stress and with limited economic and social resources. Therefore, given that normal brain growth and development is dependent on a supportive and nurturing environment as well as social connectedness with caregivers, it is the responsibility of our social welfare system to meet the needs of these children in order to keep them on a life trajectory toward becoming productive citizens.
We also have to be aware that our society is stratified by social class, race and ethnicity, and this stratification impacts the resources of families resulting in reduced ability to deal with life stresses. Although we live in one of the wealthiest areas in the nation, this wealth is not equally distributed. For example, nationally the median family wealth for Black and Latino families is one-tenth and one- eighth, respectively, of non-Latino White families. This disparity can limit a family’s ability to deal with life pressures. Given that California is the most diverse state in the union and Santa Clara
County is the most diverse county in California, our child welfare system needs to be sensitive to these issues of diversity as we meet the needs of at-risk infants.
Like other children, these atrisk infants do not have a voice in Sacramento or other centers of policymaking, but instead must trust us to understand their needs. Consequently, they rely on the child welfare system to see that their needs are met. Those on the ground with them — doctors, nurses, public health nurses, social workers and more — are their voices, their advocates. These are the professionals who care for them and support their parents and family members. Yet, it is not just their responsibility, but the responsibility of the community as a whole.
We believe it is time to create a community dialogue on the needs of our at-risk infants. To this end we are sponsoring Santa Clara County’s first Infants Conference on Jan. 29, starting at 8:30 a.m. It will be a five-hour virtual conference and will be a partnership between First 5 of Santa Clara County and a collaborative group of dedicated county leaders aligned with our concern for at-risk infants. The conference will feature experts from a variety of fields including pediatrics, public health, the juvenile dependency court and academia to engage in discussion about how to insure the well-being of these infants.
Our keynote speaker will be Judge Douglas Johnson of Nebraska, who started an innovative infants court that has enhanced the protection and nurturing of high-risk infants. Workshops with local legal and health experts will inform our community how they can help.
The health workshop will include doctors, nurses and other caregivers who work with at-risk infants. The legal workshop will involve juvenile court judges, attorneys and social workers who are experienced in dealing with at-risk infants.
During this time of COVID-19, our community has reached out to see how we can help each other and those most at risk. We ask that at-risk infants be among those we help.
We hope you will set aside time on Jan. 29 for our Infant’s Conference. You can register for this no- cost conference at www.eventbrite.com/e/do-youhearcries-healing-justice-for-vulnerable-infants-tickets
We also have to be aware that our society is stratified by social class, race and ethnicity, and this stratification impacts the resources of families resulting in reduced ability to deal with life stresses.