About FPG
The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) was founded in 1966 by a small group of scientists who had a vision – to conduct research that would make a difference in children's lives, support families, and inform public policy. Since its inception FPG has recognized that every child deserves a safe, healthy, and stimulating childhood, and our work has been dedicated to making this experience a reality for all children. For over 45 years, FPG research, outreach, technical assistance, and service have shaped how the nation cares for and educates young children.
Today we are one of the nation's oldest and largest multidisciplinary centers devoted to the study of young children and their families. About 300 researchers, implementation and technical assistance specialists, staff, and students work on over 80 projects related to developmental disabilities; early care and education; physical and social health; professional development, technical assistance, and implementation science; public policy and evaluation; and racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. Our work crosses many disciplines from anthropology and audiology to psychiatry and public health. In addition to our projects, we have a nationally accredited child care center that serves 80 families with young children, including those with disabilities and those at risk for later school problems.
FPG researchers study important issues facing young children and their families, and we use this information to enhance policy and improve practice. We are committed to sharing the information we generate with the public and to supporting professionals’ understanding and use of evidence-based practices. Like other top tier research organizations, our work is published in the most respected journals and publications in our field. What sets us apart is our effort to ensure that parents, educators, and other professionals who interact with children and families benefit from our work in a timely manner. FPG’s dedication to both research and outreach is embodied in our motto: Advancing knowledge. Enhancing lives.
Core Support Units
The work of FPG is supported by seven administrative or core support units.
The Behavioral Measurement and Audiovisual Center helps researchers gather and analyze observational data on behavior and assists projects with developing audio and video products.
The Business Office provides pre- and post-award grant support, financial services, and human resource support for FPG projects.
The Child Care Center serves approximately 80 children from infancy to age 5 and their families in a high-quality, nationally accredited, inclusive early care and education program. The center supports FPG staff as they develop and conduct professional development and research projects. It also serves as a site for UNC-CH students to fulfill practicum, internship, and student teaching requirements.
The Data Management and Analysis Center (DMAC) provides data management and statistical services to a broad range of research projects within the FPG community as well as other university departments. DMAC specializes in research database management, longitudinal study design, and data analysis. Statisticians work closely with researchers in all stages of analyses, from designing the analysis plan to conducting the analyses and documenting the results.
Information Technology Services provides full technical support to the FPG community including desktop support, network storage, data security, data backup and archiving, and web development.
Outreach helps the FPG community fulfill its mission of cultivating and sharing the knowledge necessary to enhance child development and family well-being. The Outreach team creates resources that are accessible and relevant to a diverse range of audiences and helps develop and implement communication strategies to meet Institute and project goals.
The Qualitative/Ethnographic Methods and Analysis Core (QMAC) assists researchers in all aspects of qualitative/ethnographic research including research design, training, implementation, data management, collection, and analysis. QMAC can also assist in establishing reliability and validity procedures, writing data reports, and integrating qualitative and quantitative methods and analyses.
