The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) was founded in 1966 by a small group of scientists who had a vision—to conduct research that would make a difference in children's lives, support families, and inform public policy. Since its inception, FPG has recognized that every child deserves a safe, healthy, and stimulating childhood. And for more than half a century, our work has been dedicated to making this experience a reality for all children.
We continue that work today with the below strategy statements shaping and guiding us along the way.
Our Mission
Transforming children's lives through innovation in research, practice, and policy
Our Vision
To be a hub of excellence for understanding and impacting child development
Our Values
- Relationships
- Rigor
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
Research + Application = Impact
For more than 50 years, our research has served as the scientific bedrock for child development. This includes FPG's Abecedarian Project, the most famous longitudinal study in the field, which continues to demonstrate the long-term benefits of high-quality early care and education on academic, social, and health outcomes.
We support services in all 100 counties in North Carolina, including projects to help local programs and school districts enhance student learning and literacy, develop children's self-regulation skills, and support students with autism.
We generate knowledge, inform policies, and support practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for children of all backgrounds and abilities from the earliest years. FPG supports programs serving hundreds of thousands of children with disabilities in every U.S. state and territory, improving the quality of life for our nation's most vulnerable children and their families.
In recent years, people from 180 countries have accessed FPG's online training and resources more than 20 million times. Our work is changing the world.
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