iLab

How to develop innovative and highly effective solutions in the field of early childhood that can be adapted and applied to more segments of the population?

That is the proposal of iLab, a social innovation laboratory that accelerates the development of projects guided by scientific knowledge so that they positively impact the development of children in vulnerable situations and have the potential for scale.

To achieve the results it proposes, the iLab uses its own methodology, called IDEAS Impact Framework^TM, which was developed by Frontiers of Innovation (FOI)* — the Research & Development platform of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

THE IDEAS Impact Framework^TM is based on three main components: structured materials, a clear theory of change, and a precise evaluation plan. The interrelationship between them allows for the identification of what works for whom and why. When designing solutions for audiences in specific conditions and environments, it allows for the increased impact of the proposed solution — and this is the great differential of the methodology.

The word IDEAS is an acrostic of five English verbs: innovate, develop, evaluate, adapt, and scale. This structured yet flexible approach guides teams through the stages of development, implementation, evaluation, and rapid cycle iteration of a project.

Each solution proposed by the project team goes through a testing cycle, which allows the idea to be evaluated in terms of feasibility and/or effectiveness. As the pilot shows positive results, the format allows for an increase in scale and evaluation rigor. However, if the proposed solution does not work as expected, it is again adapted and tested in a short cycle, to then be re-evaluated. Thus, it seeks to speed up the process and, at the same time, develop reliability.

For more information on the IDEAS Impact Framework^TM methodology, go to the Frontiers of Innovation page.

* THE IDEAS Impact Framework^TM is a joint initiative of Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, the Center for Translational Sciences at the University of Oregon, and the University of Washington College of Education.

TIMELINE

ONGOING PROJECTS

The iLab started in 2015 and currently has six projects from various regions of Brazil in its portfolio. Four are in the initial phase of pilot testing, and two are in a more advanced phase of a randomized controlled study (a method used to test the effectiveness of the proposed approach). The difference between both phases is in the rigor of the evaluation, and the number of people reached.

The theme of the projects involves early childhood education or parenting, and all project teams receive technical support throughout the process, through face-to-face meetings and distance mentoring, in addition to financial support.

Initial phase (pilots)

ADOÇÃO: INÍCIO DOS NOVOS VÍNCULOS (ADOPTION: THE BEGINNING OF NEW BONDS)

Theme: Parenting

Scope: Adoption

Partner organization: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Location: Porto Alegre (RS)

Description: The program consists of online psycho-pedagogical intervention for families that have adopted children of up to six years old in the last 12 months. Periodically, families receive videos related to early childhood development and issues related to adoption – managing the expectations and challenges related to adoption, for example – in addition to participating in videoconference sessions with a psychologist specialized in the subject, to reduce sources of toxic stress and build responsive relationships.

BOT.DOM

Theme: Child education

Scope: Development of language skills

Partner organization: Domlexia

Location: Florianópolis (SC)

Description: The team developed a chatbot (a computer program that uses artificial intelligence to talk to users) to provide information and educational materials that support the early development of language and literacy skills in children. The chatbot works via WhatsApp and online and is aimed at early childhood education teachers, who can chat with the program, ask questions, and access a special content archive. The available materials comply with Brazil’s National Common Curricular Base (Base Nacional Comum Curricular, BNCC) and the National Literacy Plan (Plano Nacional de Alfabetização, PNA).

The testing phase is being conducted in preschools located in the impoverished regions of Greater Florianópolis.

EQUIDADE NA INFÂNCIA (EQUITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD)

Theme: Child education

Scope: Racial equality

Partner organization: Centro de Estudos das Relações de Trabalho e Desigualdades – CEERT

Location: São Paulo (SP)

Description: In order to reduce the impact of racism on the development of black children, the team is developing a cellphone app for daycare, preschool, and kindergarten teachers, with content and concepts about race relations. The material includes practical suggestions, such as games, and stories, for working with children on a daily basis.

It is important to increase teachers’ knowledge about the consequences of racism on child development because, when present in the environment of early childhood education, racist and discriminatory practices can become a source of toxic stress, the harmful effects of which can be irreversible on children.

Advanced phase (Randomized Control Trial)

BEM (BRINCAR ENSINA A MUDAR)

Theme: Parenting

Scope: Support for responsive relationships

Partner organization: Tempojunto

Location: São Paulo (SP)

Description: Online program available via WhatsApp, composed of video classes and text messages, focused on teaching games that help in healthy child development. The adult receives suggestions for activities to do with the child while taking care of the routine of the house. The suggested activities help the child to develop physical and reasoning abilities while strengthening the bond with the caregiver.

The project was tested in daycare centers in São Paulo, with children between 12 and 23 months of age.

FORTALECENDO LAÇOS (STRENGTHENING BONDS)

Theme: Parenting

Scope: Support for responsive relationships

Partner organization: Research Laboratory for the Prevention of Child Development Issues and Behavior Problems (LAPREDES), Ribeirão Preto’s School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP)

Location: Ribeirão Preto (SP)

Description: Intervention program through video coaching, whose focus is to promote positive interactions between mothers and their children. A facilitator records the interaction between the child and the mother, who then receives a personalized video with informative content and commented excerpts from the interaction with the child. Mothers still participate in face-to-face group meetings, where they receive complementary information and participate in group dynamics to raise awareness about the importance of these interactions.

The project was implemented in daycare centers and Family Health Centers (Núcleos de Saúde da Família, NSF) in Ribeirão Preto (SP).

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Find out about other projects that have already received support from the iLab:

FORMAÇÃO DE VÍNCULO NA ADVERSIDADE (BONDING IN ADVERSITY)

Theme: Parenting

Partner organization: IPREDE – Instituto Primeira Infância

Location: Fortaleza (CE)

Description: Home visiting program to improve the quality of the bond and affection between fathers and mothers up to 25 years old and their children (from zero to three years old). The initiative is aimed at residents of regions with a high level of social vulnerability. It is based on the positive reinforcement of parenting through the video recording of the interaction between the adult(s) and the child. The interaction is recorded by a mediator who offers immediate feedback with a focus on positive interactions.

MOSAICO FÁCIL (EASY MOSAIC)

Theme: Parenting

Intervening organization: IFAN – Instituto da Infância

Location: Aranaú (CE)

Description: The Mosaico FACIL program (FACIL stands for Family, Affection, Coexistence, Childhood, and Playfulness – in Portuguese) was a home visitating program to enhance the parenting skills of families living in rural areas. The emphasis of the program, which uses podcasts and videos as tools for guidance and reinforcement, is on the hygiene care of children and prevention of domestic accidents and domestic violence.

PASSARINHO (LITTLE BIRD)

Theme: Parenting

Scope: Responsive parental relationship

Partner organization: Federal University of Acre (UFAC)

Location: Bujari (AC)

Description: Project discontinued in 2021.

iLab

TIMELINE

ONGOING PROJECTS

Initial phase (pilots)

ADOÇÃO: INÍCIO DOS NOVOS VÍNCULOS (ADOPTION: THE BEGINNING OF NEW BONDS)

BOT.DOM

EQUIDADE NA INFÂNCIA (EQUITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD)

Advanced phase (Randomized Control Trial)

BEM (BRINCAR ENSINA A MUDAR)

FORTALECENDO LAÇOS (STRENGTHENING BONDS)

Section

Find out about other projects that have already received support from the iLab:

FORMAÇÃO DE VÍNCULO NA ADVERSIDADE (BONDING IN ADVERSITY)

MOSAICO FÁCIL (EASY MOSAIC)

PASSARINHO (LITTLE BIRD)

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