The purpose of this program is to foster the development and adoption of innovative practices with the potential to transform the lives of children 0-6 years of age and their families.
The project is part of a research and development platform from the Center for the Developing Child (HCDC) of Harvard University called Frontiers of Innovation (FOI), whose methodological proposal facilitates the generation and design of ideas.
The iLab was launched in 2015 when it invited researchers, managers, and other professionals from the social, business and government sectors to form multidisciplinary teams and co-create solutions based on scientific knowledge for the unmet needs of children 0-6 facing adversity and their families.
Thirteen (13) proposals were received, of which four were approved to be developed and evaluated in short-term cycles – this was the first phase of the iLab, and it ended in July 2018. A second phase will start with the best projects assessed in the previous stage. They will continue to develop in larger, more scientifically rigorous samples. At the same time, a new cycle is also being planned for the creation of new innovative solutions.
Today, iLab has a portfolio of four projects that have gone through the first phase of pilots and analysis of results. They are:
– BONDING IN ADVERSITY:
Intervening organization: IPREDE – Instituto Primeira Infância
Location: Fortaleza, Ceará.
Mentoring program aimed at improving the quality of bonding and affection between fathers and mothers up to 25 years of age and their children (from zero to three years old) by combining home visits and counseling, using videos and text messages via cellphone and illustrative leaflets.
The program is based on positive reinforcement of parenting from video footage of the interaction between mothers and children during visits. The images are captured by a mediator who offers immediate feedback on the scenes filmed, focusing on positive interactions. The participants are from environments with many adversities.
– STRENGTHENING TIES:
Intervening organization: LAPREDES – FMRP (USP) – Research Laboratory for Prevention of Developmental Problems and Behavior of Children, School of Medical
Location: Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.
Remote video parental mentoring program (video coaching) to improve the interaction of mothers with children. The work includes a home visit of the facilitator, who films the interaction, followed by a face-to-face group meeting with the mothers for information and awareness about the importance of their interactions with their children. Mothers then receive weekly personalized videos via WhatsApp about mother-child interaction. The first part of the videos is an animation with informative content and the second part brings edited and commented excerpts of the positive interaction that was filmed from that mother with her child.
Mothers and their children (ages 2-6) live in stressful and violent environments in vulnerable areas of the region.
– MOSAICO FÁCIL:
Intervening organization: IFAN – Instituto da Infância
Location: Aranaú, Ceará.
The Mosaico FACIL program (FACIL stands for Family, Affection, Coexistence, Childhood, and Playfulness – in Portuguese) promotes home visits to enhance the parenting skills of families in rural areas. The program, which was implemented in Aranaú, Ceará, with families with children under six years of age, uses podcasts and videos as instruments of guidance and reinforcement regarding hygiene care and prevention of domestic accidents and domestic violence.
– BEM: BRINCAR ENSINA A MUDAR:
Intervening organization: Tempojunto
Location: São Paulo, São Paulo
Online course via cellphone that uses WhatsApp and focuses on playing. Mothers and caregivers receive video lessons and audio and text messages that teach and exemplify how to play with the child while taking care of the daily domestic routine using the available resources at the house. It was tested for children 12 to 23 months of age from low-income communities in São Paulo.
Information about the 2019 edition will be available soon.
