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Pia Britto, PhD

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Assistant Professor Adjunct

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Assistant Professor Adjunct

Biography

She is known internationally for her work in the areas of early
childhood policy and programs in over 40 low and middle income countries for developing integrated systems and policies for early childhood. In particular, she is investigating the role of governance and finance of national systems in achieving equity, access and quality. Dr. Britto has also been involved in several early intervention program evaluations in Africa and Asia, including a six country evaluation of an innovative approach to improve school readiness. Other aspects of her international work include the conceptualization of a measurement model for quality early childhood services and measuring and implementing the school readiness paradigm - ready children, ready families and ready schools, and understanding the best modalities to support parenting. Most recently, Dr. Britto is involved in research that is examining the relationship between early childhood and peace building. Nationally, within the United States, Dr. Britto is known for her scientific work on young children's early literacy development, and more recently, on understanding issues of identity development of Muslim and Arab children. Dr. Britto obtained her doctoral degree in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the recipient of several national and international grants and awards in recognition for her work and has published numerous books, articles, chapters and reports, and has presented extensively at conferences, meetings and workshops (academic and non-academic) around the world.

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Education & Training

PhD
Columbia University (1999)

Research

Overview

Pia Rebello Britto, Ph.D. is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Child Study Center, faculty at the Zigler Center for Social Policy and Lecturer at the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University. She is known internationally for her work in the areas of early childhood policy development and analysis and program evaluation. She is presently working with over 20 countries on developing integrated systems for early childhood using a standards approach. In addition she is also working with several individual counties on formulating national policies for the well-being of young children. Dr. Britto has been involved in several early intervention program evaluations in Africa and Asia and most recently working on a 6 country evaluation of an innovative approach to improve school readiness. Dr. Britto is known nationally for her scientific work on young children's early literacy development and more recently on understanding issues of identity development of Muslim and Arab children growing up in the United States. Dr. Britto obtained her doctoral degree in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the recipient of several national and international grants and awards in recognition for her work and has published numerous books, articles, chapters and reports and has presented extensively at conferences, meetings and work shops (academic and non-academic) both nationally and abroad.Dr. Rebello Britto is currently working, with Sharon Lynn Kagan and a UNICEF team, in over 15 countries on the development of national standards and indicators for monitoring child development outcomes. She is also working with national governments to formulate their early childhood policies and on evaluating early intervention programs in several countries. Domestically, Dr. Rebello Britto is conducting research to understand the experience of growing up Muslim in the United States and the influence of the present socio-political context on young Muslim children’s identity development.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Child Behavior; Child Development; Child Psychiatry; Global Health; Humanities; Psychiatry and Psychology

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Pia Britto's published research.

Publications

2014

2012

2008

Others

  • Britto, P. R., Yoshikawa, H., & Boller, K. (2011). Quality of early childhood development programs in global contexts: Rationale for investment, conceptual framework and implications for equity. Social Policy Report. Vol. 25, No. 2.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research
  • Britto, P. R. (2011). Global battleground or school playground: The bullying of America’s Muslim children. Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Policy Brief, No. 49.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research
  • Britto, P.R., Limlingan, M.C. (2012). School Readiness and Transitions. A Companion to the Child Friendly Schools Manual. New York, NY: UNICEF
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research
  • Britto, P.R., Engle, P.E., & Super, C.S., (Eds.) (2012). Handbook of Early Child Development Research and Its Impact on Global Policy. New York: Oxford University Press.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research
  • Britto, P.R., van Ravens, J., & Ponguta, L.A. (2011). Joining Forces for the Integration of Early Childhood Development Policies and Services in Kosovo. UNICEF Report.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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Child Study Center

PO Box 207900, 230 South Frontage Road

New Haven, CT 06520-7900

United States