University College Initiatives

Coordinated Effort to Enhance Development: Childcare Directors, Childcare Teachers, Parents and Young Children (CEED)

Under the direction of Dr. Loretta Rudd (University College), the Coordinated Effort to Enhance Development: Childcare Directors, Childcare Teachers, Parents and Young Children (CEED) is a multi-disciplinary approach to enhancing social and emotional development in young children with a coordinated effort of individuals working in/with early care and learning (i.e. childcare directors, childcare teachers, parents with children in childcare and the children in childcare).  This project targets zip codes in the Memphis area with the densest population of children under age 4 as well as the highest percentage of households at or below the poverty level (38127, 38128, 38116, 38118, and 38115). Childcare directors & teachers and parents of young children receive training in an effort to enhance knowledge and skills in social, emotional, and language development. Directors’ and teachers’ acquired knowledge and skills in the aforementioned areas are measured by locally developed surveys and direct observation using the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) observation tool while the parents’ knowledge and skills are measured with the LENA Snapshot instrument. Through participation in this program, children experience gains in social, emotional and language development as measured by the ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire).