For parents, caregivers and childcare workers

More than half of mothers with babies under one year work outside the home.  This means that thousands of children are cared for by day care centers, family members and others who may have little training in child care and little or no understanding of how their interactions with children will affect a child’s future learning abilities.

New Directions trainers, all of whom are experienced educators, conduct workshops in the community teaching caregivers how to promote healthy brain development.  No special education or medical understanding is required to attend the classes.  Parents, grandparents, babysitters and others are welcome to attend.  Concepts and methods are demonstrated in ways that are easy to grasp, and participants practice skills during the workshop so they become comfortable with good parenting.

New Directions Institute's current offering of training programs includes:  Wired for Success®, S.T.E.P.S, ABC’s of Early Learning, Parents as First Teachers and Kinder Prep.  All workshops, presentations and materials are available in both English and Spanish.

For business, community and government leaders:

New Directions professionals meet with community, business and government leaders and participate in community forums and leadership councils to increase public awareness of the science of early learning and why quality care in early childhood is important. 

Giving infants and toddlers a good start, so they may develop to their full potential, benefits the entire community.  A lack of attention and stimulation for infants and toddlers can result in learning problems that lead to a cycle of school drop-outs, juvenile drug use, underemployment and crime. 

NDI has supported the work of Greater Phoenix Leadership to develop P-20, an approach to learning that seamlessly links K-12 education with preschool and postsecondary education. P-20 offers an approach to achieving an integrated learning system.  For more information on P-20, visit the Greater Phoenix Leadership website at www.greaterphoenixleadership.com.