On Thursday, July 8, Professor Phil Fisher, Director of the UO Center for Translational Neuroscience, and colleagues with the Rapid Assessment of Pandemic Impact on Development - Early Childhood (RAPID-EC) project provided U.S. Senate staff with a briefing on a nation-wide longitudinal survey about childhood and family well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining Fisher were Joan Lombardi, chair, National Advisory, RAPID-EC, and Sharon Mullings-Neilson, director of the Woodland Academy in Philadelphia, PA and early childhood education consultant. The virtual briefing was attend by more than 20 congressional staff.

The RAPID-EC project is an early childhood family well-being survey designed to gather essential information in a continuous manner regarding the needs, health promoting behaviors, and well-being of children and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak and recovery in the United States. The survey focuses on better understanding child development (and parents’ concerns about development over time), caregiver mental health and well-being, and caregiver needs and utilization of resources. The survey collects snapshots of data across time with the ability to assess trends longitudinally. Twice per month, the team posts analyses of survey findings, including policy recommendations and resources for additional reading.

The team has completed dozens of surveys which have resulted in multiple findings and reports. One report indicates that federal stimulus payments were essential to families with young children and provided important financial relief. RAPID-EC’s findings have been cited in many national and regional publications reporting on the impact of the pandemic on children and families.