And both physical and mental well-being

i n b r i e f \| T h E F o u n d A T i o n s o F L i F E L o n g h E A L T h
A series of brief summaries of essential findings

	being before she becomes pregnant—strengthens developing biological systems
developing Child at harvard university.

l Toxic stress caused by significant adversity can produce physiological disruptions that undermine the development of the body’s stress response systems and affect the architecture of the
developing brain, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and metabolic regulatory controls. l These physiological disruptions can persist far into adulthood and lead to lifelong impairments in both physical and mental health.

biological “memories” that shape development, for
better or for worse.

3 Caregiver and community capacities to promote health and prevent disease and disability refers to the ability of family members, early childhood
program staff, neighborhoods, voluntary associations, and the parents’ workplaces to support and
strengthen the foundations of child health. These capacities can be grouped into three categories:
lTime�and�commitment, which includes the nature and quality of time caregivers spend with children and on their behalf, as well as how communities assign and accept responsibility for monitoring child health and developmental outcomes and pass and enforce legislation and regulations that affect child well-being;
lFinancial,�psychological,�and�institutional�resources,

POLiCY iMPLiCATiONS

l Current health promotion and disease prevention policies focused on adults would be more effective if evidence-based investments were also made to strengthen the foundations of health in the prenatal and early childhood periods. For example, obesity-reduction measures focused on changing adult and adolescent behaviors would be more successful if they were coordinated with programs supporting appropriate nutrition and better access to nutritious foods for pregnant mothers, infants, and toddlers.

l significant reductions in chronic disease could be achieved across the life course by decreasing the number and severity of adverse experiences that threaten the well-being of young children and by strengthening the protective relationships that help mitigate the harmful effects of toxic stress.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the

Association Center for
Best Practices and the

ALSO iN THiS SerieS:
inbrief: The science of Early Childhood development

national Conference
of state Legislatures.