The FSU Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy focuses on maternal and child health and early childhood issues, and is a unit under the administrative arm of the University's Institute for Science and Public Affairs. The Center is totally funded through grants and contracts, with a current annual budget of approximately four million dollars.

New scientific evidence substantiates that the earliest years of life provide the critical foundation for developing social, intellectual, and emotional competence.

Our vision is that one day all children will be healthy, equipped to learn, and nurtured to develop their full potential.

Our purpose is to implement this vision by investigating what interventions are most effective, translating these research findings into public policy and programs, and evaluating the impact.

Our specialization focuses on infants and toddlers in the areas of school readiness, infant mental health, home visiting and quality childcare.

The FSU Center began in 1989 at the Collins Center for Public Policy, under the direction of Senator Lawton Chiles, highly committed to maternal and child health issues. When Chiles became Governor, the work of the Center continued in the Policy Studies Clinic at the FSU College of Law until the Center was established in February, 1991 as part of the FSU Institute for Science and Public Affairs. The Center's work continues to contribute to major state initiatives for maternal and child health and development.