Colorful wooden alphabet and number blocks with red, yellow, and blue borders arranged on a surface

The First 1,000 Days Shape a Lifetime

From pregnancy through a child’s 3rd birthday, babies’ brains develop faster than at any other time in life–building the foundation for educational achievement, health, and well-being.

When mothers, babies, and families have access to the right supports during this period, children are more likely to:

  • Enter school ready to learn
  • Read on grade level
  • Grow into healthy, productive adults
Smiling toddler crawling on a carpet with another baby nearby and two adults supervising in the background during a playdate.

First 1,000 Days Florida champions efforts that strengthen:

Maternal and child health

Supporting healthy outcomes for pregnant mothers and babies sets the foundation for a healthy life.

Equal learning opportunities for infants and toddlers

High-quality, stimulating, nurturing early learning opportunities support children’s development well before a child enters kindergarten - in the first three years of life.

Early intervention

When there are delays in the ways children hear, see, talk or walk, they need the proper evaluation and therapies to reach their full potential–before their third birthday.

Prevention and Resilience

We must support children’s healthy development, and respond in cases of trauma or other adverse childhood experiences. 

We convene partners across Florida to advance solutions that support Florida families from pregnancy through early childhood.

Newborn baby grasping an adult's finger against a blue textured background, wearing light-colored clothing.

What is the First 1,000 Days Florida?

First 1,000 Days Florida is a collaborative public awareness and advocacy effort focused on evidence-based, cutting-edge policies and practices, comprehensive services, and adequate funding to support and strengthen expectant and new families.

It will take all of us to help children meet their full potential: home visitors, care coordinators, case managers; infant mental health practitioners/clinicians; prenatal and women’s health care providers; coordinating agency staff and board members; model developers, evaluators and researchers; early learning and child care providers; program administrators; state and community policymakers and funders; advocacy groups; and others.

About the history of this collaborative effort

First 1,000 Days Florida was founded by Dr. Mimi Graham and Carol Brady in 2014, and grew to include interdisciplinary leaders across a range of priority focused areas: maternal and child health, infant and toddler care, early intervention, child welfare, and prevention and resilience. 

The inaugural First 1,000 Days Florida Summit in 2015 drew more than 700 participants from maternal and child health programs, prevention of abuse and neglect, early intervention, child care, and school readiness.

A second summit in 2018 was held at the Palm Beach Convention Center and drew over 1,000 participants. The statewide multidisciplinary, cross-sector conference focused on science, skill-building, and advocacy for home visitors and other early childhood staff serving expectant and new families with children through age 3.

Over the last several years, First 1,000 Days Florida partners have hosted virtual conferences, convened with national leaders in the prenatal-to-three policy space, and continue to plan for policy advances that support babies and their families. 

In January 2026, stakeholders gathered for the First 1,000 Days Florida Showcase, in partnership with the Florida Perinatal Mental Health Conference in Tallahassee.

In February 2026, The Children’s Movement of Florida took over the organization of collective policy efforts among partners across the state. 

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