Concern is growing about the damage that instability can do to children’s healthy development. However, the issue has emerged separately across different domains, with little focus on the pervasive and interconnected nature of the issue or on possible cross-cutting policy solutions. In November 2013 the Urban Institute convened policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to discuss the implications of instability for children’s development as well as what we know, need to learn, and need to do across research, policy, and practice efforts.

The Urban Institute has release two resources related to the meeting and the topics discussed.

·         Exploring Instability and Children’s Well-Being: Insights from a Dialogue among Practitioners, Policymakers and Researchers—This report presents the insights gleaned from the meeting, including those related to continuity in child care settings.

·         Insights on Instability and Children’s Development: Commentaries from Practitioners, Policymakers, and Researchers—This paper contains essays from some meeting participants, including Shannon Rudisill, Office of Child Care Director.