%0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Takanishi, Ruby %E Le Menestrel, Suzanne %T Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English: Promising Futures %@ 978-0-309-45537-4 %D 2017 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24677/promoting-the-educational-success-of-children-and-youth-learning-english %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24677/promoting-the-educational-success-of-children-and-youth-learning-english %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 528 %X Educating dual language learners (DLLs) and English learners (ELs) effectively is a national challenge with consequences both for individuals and for American society. Despite their linguistic, cognitive, and social potential, many ELs—who account for more than 9 percent of enrollment in grades K-12 in U.S. schools—are struggling to meet the requirements for academic success, and their prospects for success in postsecondary education and in the workforce are jeopardized as a result. Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English: Promising Futures examines how evidence based on research relevant to the development of DLLs/ELs from birth to age 21 can inform education and health policies and related practices that can result in better educational outcomes. This report makes recommendations for policy, practice, and research and data collection focused on addressing the challenges in caring for and educating DLLs/ELs from birth to grade 12. %0 Book %A National Research Council %A Institute of Medicine %T Engaging Schools: Fostering High School Students' Motivation to Learn %@ 978-0-309-08435-2 %D 2004 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10421/engaging-schools-fostering-high-school-students-motivation-to-learn %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10421/engaging-schools-fostering-high-school-students-motivation-to-learn %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %P 302 %X When it comes to motivating people to learn, disadvantaged urban adolescents are usually perceived as a hard sell. Yet, in a recent MetLife survey, 89 percent of the low-income students claimed “I really want to learn” applied to them. What is it about the school environment—pedagogy, curriculum, climate, organization—that encourages or discourages engagement in school activities? How do peers, family, and community affect adolescents’ attitudes towards learning? Engaging Schools reviews current research on what shapes adolescents’ school engagement and motivation to learn—including new findings on students’ sense of belonging—and looks at ways these can be used to reform urban high schools. This book discusses what changes hold the greatest promise for increasing students’ motivation to learn in these schools. It looks at various approaches to reform through different methods of instruction and assessment, adjustments in school size, vocational teaching, and other key areas. Examples of innovative schools, classrooms, and out-of-school programs that have proved successful in getting high school kids excited about learning are also included. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Allen, LaRue %E Kelly, Bridget B. %T Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation %@ 978-0-309-32485-4 %D 2015 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/19401/transforming-the-workforce-for-children-birth-through-age-8-a %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/19401/transforming-the-workforce-for-children-birth-through-age-8-a %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 706 %X Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Olson, Steve %T From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summary %@ 978-0-309-20978-6 %D 2012 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13119/from-neurons-to-neighborhoods-an-update-workshop-summary %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13119/from-neurons-to-neighborhoods-an-update-workshop-summary %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %K Education %P 70 %X From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summary is based on the original study From Neurons to Neighborhoods: Early Childhood Development, which released in October of 2000. From the time of the original publication's release, much has occurred to cause a fundamental reexamination of the nation's response to the needs of young children and families, drawing upon a wealth of scientific knowledge that has emerged in recent decades. The study shaped policy agendas and intervention efforts at national, state, and local levels. It captured a gratifying level of attention in the United States and around the world and has helped to foster a highly dynamic and increasingly visible science of early childhood development. It contributed to a growing public understanding of the foundational importance of the early childhood years and has stimulated a global conversation about the unmet needs of millions of young children. Ten years later, the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council (NRC) held a 2-day workshop in Washington, D.C., to review and commemorate a decade of advances related to the mission of the report. The workshop began with a series of highly interactive breakout sessions in which experts in early childhood development examined the four organizing themes of the original report and identified both measurable progress and remaining challenges. The second day of the workshop, speakers chosen for their diverse perspectives on early childhood research and policy issues discussed how to build on the accomplishments of the past decade and to launch the next era in early childhood science, policy, and practice. From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summary emphasizes that there is a single, integrated science of early childhood development despite the extent to which it is carved up and divided among a diversity of professional disciplines, policy sectors, and service delivery systems. While much work still remains to be done to reach this goal, the 2010 workshop demonstrated both the promise of this integrated science and the rich diversity of contributions to that science. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Snow, Catherine E. %E Van Hemel, Susan B. %T Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and How %@ 978-0-309-31442-8 %D 2008 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12446/early-childhood-assessment-why-what-and-how %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12446/early-childhood-assessment-why-what-and-how %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %K Education %P 500 %X The assessment of young children's development and learning has recently taken on new importance. Private and government organizations are developing programs to enhance the school readiness of all young children, especially children from economically disadvantaged homes and communities and children with special needs. Well-planned and effective assessment can inform teaching and program improvement, and contribute to better outcomes for children. This book affirms that assessments can make crucial contributions to the improvement of children's well-being, but only if they are well designed, implemented effectively, developed in the context of systematic planning, and are interpreted and used appropriately. Otherwise, assessment of children and programs can have negative consequences for both. The value of assessments therefore requires fundamental attention to their purpose and the design of the larger systems in which they are used. Early Childhood Assessment addresses these issues by identifying the important outcomes for children from birth to age 5 and the quality and purposes of different techniques and instruments for developmental assessments. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %E McGinnis, J. Michael %E Gootman, Jennifer Appleton %E Kraak, Vivica I. %T Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity? %@ 978-0-309-09713-0 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11514/food-marketing-to-children-and-youth-threat-or-opportunity %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11514/food-marketing-to-children-and-youth-threat-or-opportunity %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Food and Nutrition %P 536 %X Creating an environment in which children in the United States grow up healthy should be a high priority for the nation. Yet the prevailing pattern of food and beverage marketing to children in America represents, at best, a missed opportunity, and at worst, a direct threat to the health prospects of the next generation. Children’s dietary and related health patterns are shaped by the interplay of many factors—their biologic affinities, their culture and values, their economic status, their physical and social environments, and their commercial media environments—all of which, apart from their genetic predispositions, have undergone significant transformations during the past three decades. Among these environments, none have more rapidly assumed central socializing roles among children and youth than the media. With the growth in the variety and the penetration of the media have come a parallel growth with their use for marketing, including the marketing of food and beverage products. What impact has food and beverage marketing had on the dietary patterns and health status of American children? The answer to this question has the potential to shape a generation and is the focus of Food Marketing to Children and Youth. This book will be of interest to parents, federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, health care professionals, industry companies, industry trade groups, media, and those involved in community and consumer advocacy. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Allen, La Rue %E Backes, Emily P. %T Transforming the Financing of Early Care and Education %@ 978-0-309-47040-7 %D 2018 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24984/transforming-the-financing-of-early-care-and-education %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24984/transforming-the-financing-of-early-care-and-education %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %K Education %P 314 %X High-quality early care and education for children from birth to kindergarten entry is critical to positive child development and has the potential to generate economic returns, which benefit not only children and their families but society at large. Despite the great promise of early care and education, it has been financed in such a way that high-quality early care and education have only been available to a fraction of the families needing and desiring it and does little to further develop the early-care-and-education (ECE) workforce. It is neither sustainable nor adequate to provide the quality of care and learning that children and families need—a shortfall that further perpetuates and drives inequality. Transforming the Financing of Early Care and Education outlines a framework for a funding strategy that will provide reliable, accessible high-quality early care and education for young children from birth to kindergarten entry, including a highly qualified and adequately compensated workforce that is consistent with the vision outlined in the 2015 report, Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation. The recommendations of this report are based on essential features of child development and early learning, and on principles for high-quality professional practice at the levels of individual practitioners, practice environments, leadership, systems, policies, and resource allocation. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Gadsden, Vivian L. %E Ford, Morgan %E Breiner, Heather %T Parenting Matters: Supporting Parents of Children Ages 0-8 %@ 978-0-309-38854-2 %D 2016 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21868/parenting-matters-supporting-parents-of-children-ages-0-8 %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21868/parenting-matters-supporting-parents-of-children-ages-0-8 %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 524 %X Decades of research have demonstrated that the parent-child dyad and the environment of the family—which includes all primary caregivers—are at the foundation of children's well- being and healthy development. From birth, children are learning and rely on parents and the other caregivers in their lives to protect and care for them. The impact of parents may never be greater than during the earliest years of life, when a child's brain is rapidly developing and when nearly all of her or his experiences are created and shaped by parents and the family environment. Parents help children build and refine their knowledge and skills, charting a trajectory for their health and well-being during childhood and beyond. The experience of parenting also impacts parents themselves. For instance, parenting can enrich and give focus to parents' lives; generate stress or calm; and create any number of emotions, including feelings of happiness, sadness, fulfillment, and anger. Parenting of young children today takes place in the context of significant ongoing developments. These include: a rapidly growing body of science on early childhood, increases in funding for programs and services for families, changing demographics of the U.S. population, and greater diversity of family structure. Additionally, parenting is increasingly being shaped by technology and increased access to information about parenting. Parenting Matters identifies parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with positive developmental outcomes in children ages 0-8; universal/preventive and targeted strategies used in a variety of settings that have been effective with parents of young children and that support the identified knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and barriers to and facilitators for parents' use of practices that lead to healthy child outcomes as well as their participation in effective programs and services. This report makes recommendations directed at an array of stakeholders, for promoting the wide-scale adoption of effective programs and services for parents and on areas that warrant further research to inform policy and practice. It is meant to serve as a roadmap for the future of parenting policy, research, and practice in the United States. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Steuerle, Eugene %E Jackson, Leigh Miles %T Advancing the Power of Economic Evidence to Inform Investments in Children, Youth, and Families %@ 978-0-309-44059-2 %D 2016 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23481/advancing-the-power-of-economic-evidence-to-inform-investments-in-children-youth-and-families %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23481/advancing-the-power-of-economic-evidence-to-inform-investments-in-children-youth-and-families %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 266 %X In recent years, the U.S. federal government has invested approximately $463 billion annually in interventions that affect the overall health and well-being of children and youth, while state and local budgets have devoted almost double that amount. The potential returns on these investments may not only be substantial but also have long-lasting effects for individuals and succeeding generations of their families. Ideally, those tasked with making these investments would have available to them the evidence needed to determine the cost of all required resources to fully implement and sustain each intervention, the expected returns of the investment, to what extent these returns can be measured in monetary or nonmonetary terms, and who will receive the returns and when. As a result of a number of challenges, however, such evidence may not be effectively produced or applied. Low-quality evidence and/or a failure to consider the context in which the evidence will be used may weaken society's ability to invest wisely, and also reduce future demand for this and other types of evidence. Advancing the Power of Economic Evidence to Inform Investments in Children, Youth, and Families highlights the potential for economic evidence to inform investment decisions for interventions that support the overall health and well-being of children, youth, and families. This report describes challenges to the optimal use of economic evidence, and offers recommendations to stakeholders to promote a lasting improvement in its quality, utility, and use. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Rivara, Frederick %E Le Menestrel, Suzanne %T Preventing Bullying Through Science, Policy, and Practice %@ 978-0-309-44067-7 %D 2016 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23482/preventing-bullying-through-science-policy-and-practice %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23482/preventing-bullying-through-science-policy-and-practice %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 361 %X Bullying has long been tolerated as a rite of passage among children and adolescents. There is an implication that individuals who are bullied must have "asked for" this type of treatment, or deserved it. Sometimes, even the child who is bullied begins to internalize this idea. For many years, there has been a general acceptance and collective shrug when it comes to a child or adolescent with greater social capital or power pushing around a child perceived as subordinate. But bullying is not developmentally appropriate; it should not be considered a normal part of the typical social grouping that occurs throughout a child's life. Although bullying behavior endures through generations, the milieu is changing. Historically, bulling has occurred at school, the physical setting in which most of childhood is centered and the primary source for peer group formation. In recent years, however, the physical setting is not the only place bullying is occurring. Technology allows for an entirely new type of digital electronic aggression, cyberbullying, which takes place through chat rooms, instant messaging, social media, and other forms of digital electronic communication. Composition of peer groups, shifting demographics, changing societal norms, and modern technology are contextual factors that must be considered to understand and effectively react to bullying in the United States. Youth are embedded in multiple contexts and each of these contexts interacts with individual characteristics of youth in ways that either exacerbate or attenuate the association between these individual characteristics and bullying perpetration or victimization. Recognizing that bullying behavior is a major public health problem that demands the concerted and coordinated time and attention of parents, educators and school administrators, health care providers, policy makers, families, and others concerned with the care of children, this report evaluates the state of the science on biological and psychosocial consequences of peer victimization and the risk and protective factors that either increase or decrease peer victimization behavior and consequences. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Clayton, Ellen Wright %E Krugman, Richard D. %E Simon, Patti %T Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States %@ 978-0-309-28655-8 %D 2013 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18358/confronting-commercial-sexual-exploitation-and-sex-trafficking-of-minors-in-the-united-states %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18358/confronting-commercial-sexual-exploitation-and-sex-trafficking-of-minors-in-the-united-states %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 478 %X Every day in the United States, children and adolescents are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite the serious and long-term consequences for victims as well as their families, communities, and society, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated, and unevaluated. Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States examines commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States under age 18. According to this report, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes require better collaborative approaches that build upon the capabilities of people and entities from a range of sectors. In addition, such efforts need to confront demand and the individuals who commit and benefit from these crimes. The report recommends increased awareness and understanding, strengthening of the law's response, strengthening of research to advance understanding and to support the development of prevention and intervention strategies, support for multi-sector and interagency collaboration, and creation of a digital information-sharing platform. A nation that is unaware of these problems or disengaged from solutions unwittingly contributes to the ongoing abuse of minors. If acted upon in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, the recommendations of Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States can help advance and strengthen the nation's emerging efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Kizer, Kenneth W. %E Le Menestrel, Suzanne %T Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society %@ 978-0-309-48953-9 %D 2019 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25380/strengthening-the-military-family-readiness-system-for-a-changing-american-society %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25380/strengthening-the-military-family-readiness-system-for-a-changing-american-society %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 384 %X The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation – their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families. %0 Book %A National Research Council %A Institute of Medicine %E Eccles, Jacquelynne %E Gootman, Jennifer Appleton %T Community Programs to Promote Youth Development %@ 978-0-309-10590-3 %D 2002 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10022/community-programs-to-promote-youth-development %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10022/community-programs-to-promote-youth-development %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %K Health and Medicine %P 432 %X After-school programs, scout groups, community service activities, religious youth groups, and other community-based activities have long been thought to play a key role in the lives of adolescents. But what do we know about the role of such programs for today's adolescents? How can we ensure that programs are designed to successfully meet young people's developmental needs and help them become healthy, happy, and productive adults? Community Programs to Promote Youth Development explores these questions, focusing on essential elements of adolescent well-being and healthy development. It offers recommendations for policy, practice, and research to ensure that programs are well designed to meet young people's developmental needs. The book also discusses the features of programs that can contribute to a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. It examines what we know about the current landscape of youth development programs for America's youth, as well as how these programs are meeting their diverse needs. Recognizing the importance of adolescence as a period of transition to adulthood, Community Programs to Promote Youth Development offers authoritative guidance to policy makers, practitioners, researchers, and other key stakeholders on the role of youth development programs to promote the healthy development and well-being of the nation's youth. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Bonnie, Richard J. %E Stroud, Clare %E Breiner, Heather %T Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults %@ 978-0-309-30995-0 %D 2015 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18869/investing-in-the-health-and-well-being-of-young-adults %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18869/investing-in-the-health-and-well-being-of-young-adults %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 502 %X Young adulthood - ages approximately 18 to 26 - is a critical period of development with long-lasting implications for a person's economic security, health and well-being. Young adults are key contributors to the nation's workforce and military services and, since many are parents, to the healthy development of the next generation. Although 'millennials' have received attention in the popular media in recent years, young adults are too rarely treated as a distinct population in policy, programs, and research. Instead, they are often grouped with adolescents or, more often, with all adults. Currently, the nation is experiencing economic restructuring, widening inequality, a rapidly rising ratio of older adults, and an increasingly diverse population. The possible transformative effects of these features make focus on young adults especially important. A systematic approach to understanding and responding to the unique circumstances and needs of today's young adults can help to pave the way to a more productive and equitable tomorrow for young adults in particular and our society at large. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults describes what is meant by the term young adulthood, who young adults are, what they are doing, and what they need. This study recommends actions that nonprofit programs and federal, state, and local agencies can take to help young adults make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. According to this report, young adults should be considered as a separate group from adolescents and older adults. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults makes the case that increased efforts to improve high school and college graduate rates and education and workforce development systems that are more closely tied to high-demand economic sectors will help this age group achieve greater opportunity and success. The report also discusses the health status of young adults and makes recommendations to develop evidence-based practices for young adults for medical and behavioral health, including preventions. What happens during the young adult years has profound implications for the rest of the life course, and the stability and progress of society at large depends on how any cohort of young adults fares as a whole. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults will provide a roadmap to improving outcomes for this age group as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %T Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations %@ 978-0-309-20946-5 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13116/improving-access-to-oral-health-care-for-vulnerable-and-underserved-populations %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13116/improving-access-to-oral-health-care-for-vulnerable-and-underserved-populations %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 296 %X Access to oral health care is essential to promoting and maintaining overall health and well-being, yet only half of the population visits a dentist each year. Poor and minority children are less likely to have access to oral health care than are their nonpoor and nonminority peers. Older adults, people who live in rural areas, and disabled individuals, uniformly confront access barriers, regardless of their financial resources. The consequences of these disparities in access to oral health care can lead to a number of conditions including malnutrition, childhood speech problems, infections, diabetes, heart disease, and premature births. Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations examines the scope and consequences of inadequate access to oral health services in the United States and recommends ways to combat the economic, structural, geographic, and cultural factors that prevent access to regular, quality care. The report suggests changing funding and reimbursement for dental care; expanding the oral health work force by training doctors, nurses, and other nondental professionals to recognize risk for oral diseases; and revamping regulatory, educational, and administrative practices. It also recommends changes to incorporate oral health care into overall health care. These recommendations support the creation of a diverse workforce that is competent, compensated, and authorized to serve vulnerable and underserved populations across the life cycle. The recommendations provided in Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations will help direct the efforts of federal, state, and local government agencies; policy makers; health professionals in all fields; private and public health organizations; licensing and accreditation bodies; educational institutions; health care researchers; and philanthropic and advocacy organizations.