Annotation: The New York Zero-to-Three Network promotes the optimal development of young children, their families, and their communities in the New York region. Participants in the Network include practitioners and researchers in diverse fields such as education, child care, health care, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, child psychiatry, rehabilitation therapies, mental health, social services, research, as well as representatives from the legal, business and philanthropic communities. Activities include the fostering and disseminating of a developing, clinically sensitive, state-of-the-art body of knowledge to zero to three practitioners, public and voluntary institutions, policymakers, universities and professional organizations; encouraging training that integrates the perspectives of various disciplines to achieve a comprehensive and reflective approach to intervention; providing a forum for the exchange of information emanating from infant and early childhood practitioners, researchers and programs; fostering networks across service delivery systems in order to improve effectiveness and quality and comprehensiveness; diminishing social and professional isolation by facilitating collegial support among members of different disciplines; stimulating research partnerships; and promoting public awareness about and advocates for the needs of children, parents, caregivers and families.
Keywords: Child advocacy, Child development, Collaboration, Infants, New York, Young children