By Laura Thornton
At Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Early Childhood Development and Education Center (EDEC), children from across the neurocognitive spectrum play and learn together, developing important skills that will set them up for success in school—and throughout their lives.
“Early childhood education leading to kindergarten readiness is more than academics—it’s nurturing our children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development,” explains Dr. Jacqueline Stone, the Institute’s chief clinical officer. “Our staff members address all learning environments—at the center, and at home and in the community—for the child and family.”
Founded in 1981 as PACT, the center formally affiliated with the Institute in 1998. In 2022, propelled by federal and state funding, it transformed into EDEC to offer innovative, integrated and inclusive programming.
The center has three core programs:
- World of Care offers in-house nursing care, along with physical, occupational and speech therapies, and it welcomes children 6 weeks to 5 years old with and without disabilities.
- Southeast Early Head Start specializes in attachment-based and trauma-informed models of care for families living in Baltimore City who are facing a range of high-risk factors.
- Early Learning Classrooms, which receives funding through a Maryland State Department of Education Prekindergarten Expansion Grant, uses a play-based curriculum to serve children 3 to 5 years old with and without disabilities.
All center locations—including the playgrounds—are fully accessible to children who use wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment.
Starting early is essential to changing the trajectory of early development.”– Dr. Jacqueline Stone
Children and families come to the center for its services but quickly become part of its family, explains Amonee Randolph, an early intervention teacher for infants and toddlers. Several times a year, staff members collaborate with each child’s family to create a personalized learning plan that supports each child’s learning and social and emotional development. “The individual care plans make families feel supported and—more importantly—seen,” Randolph says.
“Families often come to us after being told what their child can’t do,” adds physical therapist Temrah Okonski. “We are here to show families what their child can do.”
“Starting early is essential to changing the trajectory of early development,” Dr. Stone says. “This center integrates development, education and healthcare to provide a holistic approach that will produce meaningful outcomes. Our vision is to impact not only the children and families we serve directly, but also to establish a model for quality early childhood education that can be used across Maryland and the country.”
Kennedy Krieger is deepening its commitment to early childhood across all areas—clinical care, education, research, training and advocacy. To support this work, Marcella Franczkowski serves as assistant vice president for early childhood strategy, promoting partnerships and collaboration with the community to advance early childhood priorities throughout the Institute.