A child’s development is a dynamic process, especially from 0 to 6 years of age — known as early childhood — when their neurological structures and brain connections are developed, in addition to the acquisition of psychological, biological, and social skills. The experiences lived during this period can generate impacts that will accompany the individual for the rest of their life in terms of behavior, health, academic, and professional performance.
In Brazil, socioeconomic, educational, and cultural barriers still prevent children from developing their full potential. Given this scenario, CPAPI – Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisa Aplicada à Primeira Infância (or Brazilian Center for Early Child Development) aims to promote integral child development through scientific research at the frontier of knowledge to help formulate public policies based on scientific evidence for children.
Launched in 2021, CPAPI is an initiative of the NCPI with the support of its partner organizations – Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (HCDC), David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, The Universidade de São Paulo Medical School, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation, Insper, and Porticus América Latina. The Center will be managed by and headquartered at Insper and is linked to the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (FAPESP).
As a priority of its research agenda, the Center proposes to improve national home visiting programs through the creation of technologies and the collection of unprecedented data on child development. The information collected will allow forming a baseline to plan and evaluate interventions to qualify public policies for early childhood. In addition, CPAPI has knowledge sharing among its primary activities. Such knowledge is acquired through research and technologies transferring to public managers.
