In this digital content spotlight, we’re highlighting The Impact Center at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute's podcast, Implementation Science at Work, which launched in 2021 with the goal of sharing successful implementation stories and providing real insight into actual implementation science at work.

Little has been done to learn which healthcare system factors truly enable autistic children to thrive. A recent journal article, Linking System of Care Services to Flourishing in School-Aged Children with Autism, explains how two researchers—UNC School of Medicine's Wanqing Zhang and FPG's Stephanie Reszka—aimed to address this research gap.

FPG Faculty Fellow Kori Flower, MD, MS, MPH, a professor of pediatrics and division chief of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine, has provided medical care to children and families for more than 25 years. As part of our FPG Faculty Fellow profile series, we recently spoke with Dr. Flower to learn about her work.

Torica Exume, a research scientist at FPG, has a strong commitment to improving the lives of autistic children. She applies her extensive education and hands-on experience to enhance communication, social interactions, analysis and treatment of repetitive behavior disorders, and safety skills. As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with Exume to learn more about her work at FPG.

The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is pleased to welcome Lucelmo Lacerda, PhD, a visiting scholar who will be working with FPG senior research scientists Sam Odom, PhD, and Ann Sam, PhD. We recently spoke with Lacerda to learn more about his work and his path to FPG—here’s what he had to say.

Jean Jarrett, a graduate student in the department of health sciences speech and hearing sciences at the UNC School of Medicine, was recently named the winner of the 2025 James J. Gallagher Dissertation Award from the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. The award honors the legacy of the late Jim Gallagher, FPG director from 1970 to 1987 and provides a $4,500 stipend.

The Abecedarian Award honors a Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute staff member's early career research that is scientifically rigorous and addresses an issue of significant social concern. We recently spoke with this year's winner, Jessica Amsbary, PhD, to ask about her work at the Institute and what the Abecedarian Award means to her.

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.

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.