Opportunity Research 6/22 - Small-State Bias in Covid-19 Funds, Early Environment and Brain Structure, Covid-19, Firearms and Kids

By Andrew

• From the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience - a new study documents that the cognitive and linguistic environment of young humans affects brain structure. Specifically, “Low socioeconomic status infants were randomized to either 5 years of cognitively and linguistically stimulating center-based care or a comparison condition. The intervention resulted in large and statistically significant changes in brain structure measured in midlife, particularly for male individuals.”

The study is limited but important, as it is the first study to suggest that the observed relation between brain structure and socioeconomic status (Noble & Giebler, 2020) is true. Strong argument for the expansion of interventions like Providence Talks.

• From Pediatrics - a new study documents the correlation between increased fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries in children with increased firearm purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic period when compared to corresponding pre pandemic months in 2016–2019.

Firearm safety certainly seems like an opportunity where schools and local health departments could come together to make meaningful impact through education and awareness (during the first six months of the pandemic, children suffered 797 firearms injuries - 797 too many).

• From NBER - a working paper argues that, “across the four main pieces [of federal Covid-19] legislation, having an additional Senator or Representative per million residents predicts an additional $670 dollars in combined state and local aid per capita.” 

Significant implications for rural schools, which make up one third of all schools in the country. Is this enough money to close the digital divide and address related equity issues?