Kent State University

Kent State University’s School of Information and College of Nursing will conduct a pilot study to explore how public library practitioners can partner with community health practitioners to support families of children 0-24 months old from underserved communities with early brain development, learning, and health. The pilot study is expected to generate valuable knowledge for the field on (1) how libraries currently support families with children ages 0-24 months and how community health practitioners fit into those efforts; and (2) the barriers, challenges, and needs families in underserved groups experience with regard to early brain development, learning, and health. Two main outcomes will emerge from the project: (1) a roadmap that details the results from the pilot study to help libraries and library staff understand the needs of families with children ages 0-24 months from underserved communities and identify initial ways they can partner with community health practitioners to support these families in their own communities; and (2) a work plan for a larger grant proposal focused on establishing replicable models, effective practices, and recommendations for how libraries and community health practitioners can partner to support families with children ages 0-24 months in underserved communities.