Children's Studies at Harvard, a new project of the Harvard Project on Schooling and Children, has awarded seven research grants and three course development awards, the first such awards by this program. Professor Martha Minow of the Law School and Stuart Hauser of the Medical School are the executive directors of Children's Studies, which is supported by a grant from the Carnegie Corp.

Research Grants

The research grants, in amounts ranging from $1,500 to $25,000, are designed as seed monies to promote interdisciplinary, collaborative research around the three themes that guide the work of Children's Studies: Children's resilience in the face of difficult circumstances; the influences of children's identities (race, ethnicity, class, disability) on their aspirations and activities; and the cultural and social roots that explain the place and treatment of children in public discourse.

The recipients of the awards are:

"Historical Foundations of the Teaching of Deaf Children," Mittul Gulati, undergraduate at Harvard College;

"The Resiliency Of Children With Learning Disabilities: What Role Do Their Own Identities, Their Families, Public Services, And Public Discourse Play?," S. Jody Heymann, Medical School;

"Recovery Among Troubled Youth: Identifying Protective Factors Within a System of Care," Mira Levitt, Judge Baker Children's Center, Medical School; and Heidi Gralinski, Judge Baker Children's Center, Medical School;

"Cultural Identity as Reflected in Childrearing Beliefs and Practices," Barbara Alexander Pan, Graduate School of Education; Catherine Snow, Graduate School of Education; Lucie White, Law School; Catherine Ayoub, Graduate School of Education;

"Understanding The Needs of Latino Children Affected By Maternal Substance Abuse: An Exploratory Study To Enhance Interdisciplinary Interventions," Monica Roizner, Judge Baker Children's Center, Medical School; Hortensia Amaro, School of Public Health, Boston University; Lucie White, Law School; Greta Anderson, Entre Familia;

"Speaking For America's Children: The Past And Future Of Advocacy," Theda Skocpol, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kennedy School;

"Confronting The Clash Of Women's And Children's Interests In Public Discourse," Paul Wise, Pediatrics, Boston University, Harvard University; Sofia Gruskin, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights; Lillian Shirley, Public Health Commission, City of Boston.

In addition, Children's Studies awarded Nancy Rappaport and Lee Reynolds of the Cambridge Hospital, a stipend to support an evaluative consultation for their proposed study, "Building Resiliency: The Academic Advisory Program."

Course Development Awards

Children's Studies also made the first curricular development awards to support the development of additional courses or units of courses, that can be incorporated into the Children's Studies curriculum.

The recipients of the course development awards are:

"Child Development And Disability: Influences Of Family, Social Structures, Public Policy, Law And Ethics," Kerim M. Munir, Medical School; Ludwik S. Szymanski, Medical School;

" 'Read Boston': A School And Community Collaboration To Reduce Reading Failure," Lowry Hemphill, Graduate School of Education; Richard Weissbourd, Kennedy School of Government;

"Child Care Clinical Project," Lucie White, Law School; Shari B. Zimble, Law School.

Future Awards

A second cycle of funding for these awards will soon begin. In addition, another category of awards which will fund student researchships for faculty working on children's issues, will be available for the first time next fall.

Those interested in applying for grants, or in obtaining further information, should contact: Arlie Woodrum, Director, Children's Studies at Harvard, 126 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138; 496-4806.