Charles A. Nelson, III, PhD

The Bucharest Early Intervention Project seeks to examine the effects of early institutionalization on brain and behavioral development, and the efficacy of foster care as an intervention for children with histories of institutionalization. To accomplish these goals, three samples of children have been followed longitudinally since infancy: those who were abandoned at birth and places in institutions and who continue to live in institutions; those abandoned at birth, placed in institutions and then randomly assigned to high-quality foster care; and never institutionalized children living with their parents in the greater Bucharest community. In this talk I will focus my remarks on key aspects of this project, including a discussion of brain development, social, emotional, and cognitive development, and importantly, mental health outcomes in the three samples of children.