Talaris Research Institute, a nonprofit based in Seattle, and KCTS/Seattle Public Television are launching the second year of Parenting Counts: A Focus on Early Learning. The parenting education initiative is now available in nearly 50 communities through PBS’s national “Ready To Learn” service. Parenting educators are attending the Talaris Parenting Counts conference in Seattle this week to learn how parents can support a child’s healthy social and emotional development from birth through five.

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Talaris Research Institute announces two senior staff appointments, Brenda Blasingame as Director of Programs and Sherry Catron Wong as Director of Product Strategy. Both will help Talaris translate early learning research into practical knowledge for parents. They bring expertise in public-private partnerships, philanthropy, early learning and national program development.

“The science is clear, babies are born with remarkable learning abilities and parents are the key in developing those abilities. But parents need help applying the research to everyday life,” says Terrence Meersman, executive director, Talaris Research Institute. “Brenda and Sherry bring experience in designing programs and curriculum to do just that.”

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