Nurturing Early Development and Responsive Relationships
Advancing early care and learning practices through professional development, coaching, consultation, and reflective practice
Responsive care and positive attachments are essential for early brain growth and development. Experiences in the earliest years impact lifelong learning and well-being. WestEd strengthens early childhood programs and caregiving practices through evidence-based professional learning and systems of support.
We deliver technical assistance and training through federal initiatives, state contracts, and specialized services to improve outcomes for young children and families. Our suite of services promotes healthy beginnings for all infants and toddlers and their families, ensuring a strong foundation for lifelong learning, growth, and positive emotional outcomes.
Our Capacities
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More Related to This Focus Area
Featured Services and Projects
California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network
IECMHC delivers mental health consultation services, supports, and resources to home- and center-based child care and early education providers serving children birth to 5 and their families.
Project
Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC)
PITC provides professional development and resources for infant/toddler providers and the communities they serve.
Service
Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) Website
We consider a relationship-based approach to caring for infants and toddlers essential. Explore our dedicated website to learn about our professional development and resources for the early childhood education community.
Service
Comprehensive Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN)
CEITAN assists lead agencies in enhancing the systems that provide early intervention, education, and developmental services to young children with disabilities and their families.
Project
Developmentally Informed Trauma Practices in Early Childhood
DITP helps infant–family and early childhood workforces develop an increased understanding of the risks and impact of trauma on infants, toddlers, young children, and their families.
Service
Beginning Together: Caring for Young Children in Inclusive Settings
Beginning Together promotes appropriate practices in a variety of early care and education settings through training, technical assistance, leadership development, and information dissemination.
Project
Insights & Impact
Resources
Browse our high-quality publications and resources designed to inform and engage professionals in a variety of fields including K–12 education, early childhood, and health and justice.
Featured Experts
Leslie Fox
Leslie Fox is the Director for Early Childhood Mental Health, Development and Disabilities programs at WestEd. She is a nationally recognized expert in program evaluation and systems alignment, evidence-based practices to improve learning and developmental outcomes, and implementation science.
Expert
Elizabeth Magruder
As Vice President of Early Learning, Elizabeth Magruder leads complex, multiyear projects that advance states’ early learning and care systems, driving policy reforms and change efforts through systemwide visioning to improve the quality of learning experiences for all communities.
Expert
Angela McGuire
As a Program Director with the Early Childhood Mental Health, Development and Disabilities team, Angela McGuire facilitates training and technical assistance for local and state education agencies, disability service agencies, and family support agencies for cross-agency impact.
Expert
Peter Mangione
Peter L. Mangione is Senior Director of Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives at WestEd and directs the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), a national model for early childhood professional development. He has led the creation of early learning and development standards and curriculum, infant, toddler, and preschool program guidelines, resources for supporting young dual language learners, and early childhood educator competencies.
Expert
Arlene Paxton
Arlene Paxton is the Director of Infant and Toddler Care. Paxton is responsible for the overall vision, strategy, operations, and business development of the Infant and Toddler Care Area. She has more than 25 years of experience working to design and develop systems that deliver professional development for early educators serving children from birth to age 3 and their families.
Expert
Osnat Zur
Osnat Zur serves as the Senior Director of Early Childhood Learning and Development. She is a developmental psychologist with expertise in children’s cognitive development, focusing primarily on early mathematical thinking and scientific reasoning.
Expert
Linda Brault
Linda Brault is a Project Director for a trio of projects that focus on successful inclusion of young children with disabilities or behavior challenges. Her practical strategies, deep expertise, and years of experience help her tailor training, coaching, and leadership team development for clients large and small.
Expert
Jennifer Miller
Jennifer Miller is a Director with the Early Childhood Intervention, Mental Health, and Inclusion team. She helps build and sustain cross-sector workforce capacity in early childhood systems, programs, and services, including maternal and child health; home visiting; Part C early intervention; early childhood education; and early childhood mental health.
Expert
Monica Mathur-Kalluri
As a Project Director on WestEd’s Early Childhood Intervention, Mental Health, and Inclusion team, Monica Mathur-Kalluri engages with practitioners, parents, and state and community leaders to enhance the well-being of infants and toddlers, their families, and the prenatal-to-5 professionals who support them.
Expert
Krista Murphy
Krista Murphy is a national expert in early learning and care systems that advance equitable opportunity and outcomes for children, families, and the workforce....
Expert