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Rep. Kelsey Attends National Symposium
Rep. Dick Kelsey attended the National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy June 26th through the 27th at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Ma. Kelsey was the only member of the Kansas House of Representatives to be chosen by the Speaker of the House to attend.
The symposium included about 100 attendees from 14 different states. The purpose of the conference was to share the latest scientific data concerning the affects of early childhood development on the success of children later in life. “The data is clear that severe stress in a child’s life during their first 12 months of development had significant impact on their ability to learn and relate to others in later years” explained Kelsey.
Time was spend evaluating what states are doing or should do to assist in the positive development of children in these early years. Much time was spent discussing how to form public/private partnerships that can effectively address the problems some parents face in raising infant children. “Government can’t do it all” Kelsey proclaimed.
The symposium was primarily conducted by the Center on the Developing Child as well as the National Conference of State Legislatures. It was financed by a number of foundations. None of Rep. Kelsey’s expenses were paid with state funds.
“I have spent the last ten years working with troubled teens” declared Kelsey. “It is clear to me that many of the boys we deal with have problems that go back to the very early stages of their development. The more we can do as a society to help children when they begin life, the less cost to society when they are older.”
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