Go NAPSACC

Thanks to our wonderful and generous donors, we’ve already reached our #GivingTuesday goal—before Giving Tuesday even arrives! But we’re not stopping here. With Giving Tuesday less than one week away, we’re raising our goal to help the Ward Memorial Fund make an even bigger impact. The Ward Memorial Fund supports project and professional development opportunities for early care and education professionals, students, and researchers. Rooted in the empowerment of aspiring researchers and ECE professionals who share a commitment to nurturing and enriching young minds, the Ward Memorial Fund exemplifies our founder, Dr. Dianne S. Ward’s visionary spirit. Make a gift to the Ward Memorial Fund to help us reach our goal and support opportunities for current and future ECE workers and public health researchers! https://lnkd.in/erFFrWKH

Outdoor play supports children’s mental and physical health. However, research shows that children are spending less time outdoors, with the greatest impact seen in programs serving children of color and children from low-income families. Read more to learn more about the decrease in outdoor play and learning and find ideas for ECE programs can add outdoor time. https://lnkd.in/eUxyFCTZ

Go NAPSACC's Director, Dr. Falon Smith received an award from the Department of Veteran Affairs to conduct a qualitative study to better understand moral injury, how it affects Veterans’ health, and inform research and treatment. Moral injury is increasingly recognized as a significant psychosocial and spiritual concern among Veterans, drawing growing attention from both researchers and practitioners due to its profound impact on psychological well-being and its association with complex mental health conditions.?Learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/e7pndZHA

The Community Health and Wellness Resource Team is hiring a Research Assistant! ?? In this role, you will work across projects researching care environments, including child care, adult supervised care, and Veteran care. This is a great opportunity for recent graduates looking to get more hands-on research experience, particularly in the field of public health. Apply by 11/26 to be considered at: https://lnkd.in/dw7rmS92

With rates of obesity increasing across the country, Go NAPSACC knows that early childhood is our best chance to not only prevent many health problems, but also to tackle current health disparities.? Proven effective in reducing early childhood obesity risk, Go NAPSACC helps ECE programs implement practices, policies, and environments that support lifelong healthy habits for children. With over 11,000 ECE programs enrolled reaching over half a million children, Go NAPSACC is empowering states, consultants, programs, and early childhood educators to build healthier futures for our children. You can support our work by making a gift to the Ward Memorial Fund which supports our research team’s summer internship program, projects, and professional development opportunities for students, researchers, public health practitioners, and early care and education professionals. https://lnkd.in/erFFrWKH?

Remembered as Dr. Ward by some, Go NAPSACC’s late founder and director was a highly revered educator and pioneer of childhood obesity research, responsible for steering countless individuals into fulfilling careers in academia, research, and public health practice. Others remember Dianne, a driven colleague and collaborative visionary, recognizing and harnessing individual strengths while inspiring a collective effort towards a common goal. Friends and family remember Dianne for her endearing smile, her generosity, and her love for the four B’s – beach, boys (grandsons), birds, and basketball. For as many people who hold these cherished memories, there are many more who may not know her at all, yet her memory ripples through their lives every day, as Dianne’s legacy continues through all those she has impacted personally and through the countless lives that have been improved through her work. Contributing to the Ward Memorial Fund furthers Dianne’s legacy of empowering public health researchers and the ECE workforce and supporting the health and wellness of children worldwide. Make a gift today to honor Dianne's life and legacy: https://lnkd.in/erFFrWKH

The Community Health and Wellness Resource Team is hiring a Project Manager for our Moral Injury Project! ?? Moral Injury is commonly defined as the psychological distress that results from actions, or the lack of them, that violate someone’s deeply held moral beliefs and values. This project, funded by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs aims to understand the current landscape of moral injury research and practice from the perspective of research and practice experts and engage with US military Veterans regarding their care experiences. ? This is a great opportunity for recent master’s graduates from health counseling, psychology, or social work programs interested in the cross-section of healthcare research and practice. Apply by 11/18 to be considered at: https://lnkd.in/eW_viA7F

Did you know #GivingTuesday is less than a month away? Go NAPSACC and the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team have set a goal to raise $1,000 for the Ward Memorial Fund which supports our research team’s summer internship program, projects, and professional development opportunities for students, researchers, public health practitioners, and early care and education professionals! Make a gift to the Ward Memorial Fund to help us reach our goal and build opportunities for the current and future ECE workers and researchers who promote the health and development of our children. https://lnkd.in/erFFrWKH

Have a child between the ages of 3-8 years old and live within 50 miles of UNC Chapel Hill? The Community Health & Wellness Resource Team's Spectra Discovery project is interested in the accuracy of wearable devices designed for children to measure electronic screen use. If you are interested in participating, complete the eligibility questionnaire here: https://lnkd.in/eNgUNnbF If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!?

When you buy local foods you can boost your local economy, access fresher and more nutritious produce, strengthen community connections, and more. But, did you know buying local foods also supports sustainable, environmentally friendly practices? Read more to learn about the environmental benefits of buying local foods and how ECE programs can purchase them: https://lnkd.in/eTp2UBFG