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ECTA logo; Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center Impact Story Series
June 18, 2025
The Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute recently produced a series of stories that highlight the impact some of its recent efforts are making in early childhood special education as states support children and families. Keep reading to see the difference ECTA's work makes.
young boy reading in library surrounded by books
June 16, 2025
FPG's scientists, specialists, scholars, staff, and faculty fellows produce numerous new publications each year—including books and book chapters, journal articles, online learning publications, reports and policy briefs, technical assistance guides, and other resources. In this article, find a listing of some of our more recent publications.
25th International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute; group of three smiling young children
June 11, 2025
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute's Early Childhood Inclusion Institute—an annual event dedicated to improving outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families—join us for a global conversation on advancing inclusion for young children with disabilities.
Szu-Yin Chu; woman with long dark hair and bangs wearing a geometric design dress and cardigan smiles at camera
June 10, 2025
In partnership with UNC's Fulbright Scholarship Program FPG is pleased to welcome Szu-Yin Chu to FPG, a Fulbright senior researcher, who will be working with FPG Director, Brian Boyd. We recently spoke with Chu to learn more about work and her journey to Chapel Hill with the Fulbright Program.
Samantha Schilling; woman with shoulder-length red hair smiles at camera
June 5, 2025
The PriCARE study (short for "Child Adult Relationship Enhancement in Pediatric Primary Care"), led by Samantha Schilling, a pediatrician at the UNC School of Medicine and a faculty fellow at FPG, is trying to help parents navigate the challenges of parenthood through evidence-based workshops.
Yellow school bus on a country road, with snow-covered mountains in the background.
June 3, 2025
Deepening her commitment to support families and professionals in maximizing children’s learning potential through interventions and resources, Hsiu-Wen Yang, PhD, a research investigator/technical assistance specialist at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, recently led a project focused on advancing outcomes for multi-language learners in rural, agricultural communities.
Mother and daughter playing in mountain stream
May 27, 2025
After reading about research showing the incidence rate of diagnosable psychiatric disorders in adults was lower in those who grew up near green spaces as children, FPG's Nissa Towe-Goodman became interested in exploring how the availability of natural areas could offset the development of those disorders.
FPG Next decorative logo; sub-title pilot grant recipients
May 21, 2025
"These newly funded projects are exciting,” said Noreen Yazejian, FPG's interim associate director for research, “not only for the knowledge they will generate in the short term but also for their potential to spark further discovery, improve outcomes for children and families, and bring tangible benefits to North Carolina and beyond through innovative practices.”
teresa taylor headshot; woman with long blond hair wearing a sleeveless black top stands in a bright hallway lined with windows
May 19, 2025
Teresa Taylor, MEd, is an intervention specialist with the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI) team at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with Taylor to learn more about her work at FPG.
FPG Welcomes 2025 McKinney Scholars; pictured from left to right are Aerryan Bentley, Kamora Coleman, Kyleigh Creighton, and Amaya Jeffers. Headshot style photos in Carolina blue frames.
May 12, 2025
The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is excited to welcome its fifth cohort of Marvin H. McKinney Scholars, which includes Aerryan Bentley from Johnson C. Smith University, Kamora Coleman from North Carolina Central University, and Kyleigh Creighton and Amaya Jeffers from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
young boy with sandy brown hair and wearing a blue and white stripe top with gray pants carries an inflatable globe
May 5, 2025
Research is at the heart of all that we do at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). Through rigorous study design, data collection, and analysis, we seek to improve children's lives, support families, and inform public policy. Visit our impact page for spotlights on some of our 60+ current projects to learn more about the reach and impact of our work.
Jani Kozlowski wearing blue sweater and black top stands outside in front of the Spangler building on UNC campus
April 30, 2025
In April, FPG's Award Selection Committee named Jani Kozlowski, as this year’s recipient of the Richard M. Clifford Fund for International Collaboration on Early Learning Environments award. Kozlowski, a technical assistance specialist with the Trohanis Technical Assistance Projects at FPG, was chosen because her work reflects Clifford’s passion for fostering international collaborations among researchers to further understanding of quality in early learning environments.
Katy McCullough; woman with glasses and short blonde hair stands outside in front of shrub
April 28, 2025
Katy McCullough, MA, is a co-principal investigator and an associate director with the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center within the Trohanis Technical Assistance Projects at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with McCullough to learn more about her work at FPG. Here’s what she had to say.
Mia Alto; young woman with long dark brown hair stands outside in green field smiling at camera
April 23, 2025
Mia Alto, a UNC student majoring in psychology and management and society with a minor in Spanish, has been involved in many service opportunities in the community. For the past year, she's been working with FPG's autism team and is this year's recipient of the Barbara Davis Goldman Award.
Amelia Krysinksi; woman stands in brightly lit window-flanked corridor and smiles at camera
April 21, 2025
Amelia Krysinski is a project manager with the National Implementation Research Network at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. She has experience in project management, coordinating participants and data collection for research studies, event planning, providing technical assistance, and more.
PBS North Carolina to Host Impact Early Childhood Education Summit June 7 in Winston-Salem, NC with stock image of three women sitting around a conference table
April 16, 2025
PBS NC will hold its fourth annual Impact Early Childhood Education Summit Saturday, June 7. This full-day conference aims to empower educators, childcare providers, parents and caregivers to lay a strong foundation for young learners. FPG is partnering with PBS for the event to host sessions focused on North Carolina pre-K.
Ping Chen; woman with shoulder-length black hair and glasses smiles at camera
April 14, 2025
Ping Chen is an advanced research scientist and social science research methodologist at FPG. With interdisciplinary experience in social science and epidemiology, she specializes in conducting research to understand social, environmental, behavioral, and biological linkages in developmental and long-term health trajectories.
wendy morgan; woman with shoulder-length curly brown hair and glasses
April 10, 2025
FPG's Wendy Morgan provides strategic and scalable infrastructure for the ITTI Care Project. Funded by the NCDCDEE and housed at Duke University, the project offers professional development for the infant/toddler child care workforce across the state of North Carolina to support the provision of trauma-informed child care.
Yolanda Perkins
April 7, 2025
Yolanda Perkins, EdS, is an implementation specialist at FPG. With more than 20 years of experience in K-12 and post-secondary education, her work focuses on expanding the use of evidence-based practices to reduce disparities in education, learning, and social outcomes. As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with Perkins to learn more about her work at FPG. Here’s what she had to say.
AFIRM for toddlers; AFIRM and AFIRM for paraeducators logos
April 2, 2025
For the past 10 years, members of the autism team, including Ann Sam, Victoria Waters, and Sam Odom, at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute have provided Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules, offering evidence-based practices to support learners on the spectrum from birth to 22 years of age. To celebrate this decade milestone and April’s Autism Acceptance Month, the AFIRM team launched its new website this week.

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