Featured Speakers

Featured Speakers

Featured Speakers

Moderator and Special Guest

A Wealth of Post-Webinar Resources

Our “Thank-You Gift” for filling out the Post-Webinar Survey

Recording

Slides

Many Levels of Action to Spread Neuro-Nurturing

• Organizing and Aligning for Transformation
• Big picture frameworks to tame the complexity (Neuro-Nurturing Ecosystem)
• Theory of Transformation (Strategy Maps) to break down silo walls

​

• Scaling up and Implementing Promising Models
• Learn about important work that’s been done
• Share and leverage rather than re-invent & recreate

​

• Upgrading & Enhancing Existing Efforts w/ Neuro-Nurturing
• Maternal & Child Health
• Doula, Home Visiting, and Community Health Workers or childcare�
• Spreading the Understanding, Awareness & Support for Early Childhood Development
• Beyond ACEs (reactive) to understanding the basics of brain development (proactive)
• Gaining insights to enhance advocacy and community support.

​

Each of you may fit into this issue in a different way—but there are roles for all of you.

Agenda

• Introducing “Neuro-Nurturing”
• Face-to-Face Communication & Infant Brain Development
• The Engagement in Action (EnAct!) Framework & Launching Lifelong Health
• The DECADE OF THE CHILD
• Scaling up Neuro-Nurturing and Better Birth Outcomes
• Moving to Action with a Community Ecosystem
• Techniques and Tools
• Example of Engaging Fathers in Neuro-Nurturing
• Funding opportunities
• Calls to Action

Neuro-Nurturing is a term for actively and holistically supporting the optimal brain development of babies and children.

It goes beyond traditional notions of neural development being primarily about intelligence-building and academic knowledge acquisition, focusing instead on facilitating overall development while also preserving the beautiful essence of who a child is.

Neuro-Nurturing is the intentional and holistic support of a child’s developing brain by meeting their physical, emotional, security, and cognitive needs in ways that foster optimal health, behavior, learning, and overall well-being.

​

It integrates essential elements—such as nutrition, movement, music, nurturing responsiveness, and creative exploration—to ensure a child’s innate, undefinable brilliance thrives.

​

Through attuned care, consistency, serve-and-return interactions, and rich opportunities for play, Neuro-Nurturing lays the foundation for lifelong confidence, self-worth, and authentic self-expression.

​

Neuro-Nurturing term is �NOT trademark protected �(just the logo is)

You are free to use it in useful ways that may be aligned with or supportive of the work and efforts you are involved with.

It’s similar to other proper-cased terms:

• Social Determinants of Health
• Early Relational Health 
• Adverse Childhood Experiences   
• Positive & Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Maternal and Infant Health

​

The Influence of Early Parent-Child Interactions

Dr. Beatrice Beebe

Columbia University

Parents and caregivers can be coached on how to strengthen attachment – Early Relational Health

Two Inspirational Leaders

Christina Bethell, PhD, MBA, MPH

• Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Nova Scholar, and Founding Director of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI)
• NASEM Committee member for Launching Lifelong Health
• Creator of the EnAct! Framework and Well Visit Planner

​

​

Diana “Denni” Fishbein, PhD

• Senior Scientist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill, Nova Scholar, and President & Co-Director of the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC)
• Co-Leader of the DECADE OF THE CHILD initiative

​

National Prevention

Science Coalition

www.npscoalition.org

To Improve Lives

Diana “Denni” Fishbein, PhD

• National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives
• FPG Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Penn State University

DESPITE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE...

Health care, public health, education, child welfare, and criminal justice policies relatively unaffected by the prevention and health promotion sciences.

Potential for population level impacts with broad implementation of evidence-based strategies, policy change, and normalization.

DECADE OF THE CHILD

Supporting the whole ecosystem within which children are born, play, learn, and flourish.

An Action Plan to Improve the

Health and Wellbeing of Our Nation's Children

​

​

THE TIME IS LONG OVERDUE...

…for our policymakers to take action for our children, the greatest natural resource of any country.

Now is the time to elevate children in our civic goals and public policies!

APPROACH to Fostering Whole Child Health and Wellbeing

Child-Focused Policy Agenda in Congress

​

Action-Oriented Research: Cross Agency Supported

Public Education Campaign

​

Community and Local Government Engagement

Congressional Legislative Policies

Community Level

• Tracking system to evaluate program effects on health and wellbeing
• Child abuse prevention funding
• Home visiting programs
• Affordable housing
• Maternal and infant care (e.g., midwives, doulas)
• Substance use prevention and treatment

System Level

• Systems integration to meet shared goals of child heath and wellbeing
• Child welfare reform
• Juvenile justice system reform
• Mandated sensitivity and trauma training for child-serving individuals and systems

School Level

• Prevention and health promotion programs
• Preschool grants
• Increased pay for teachers
• Increased funding for Title 1 and community schools
• Free and reduced lunch
• Better salaries and slots for mental health providers
• Safety nets for homeless children
• Parenting support programs

Population Level

• Gun safety policies
• Child tax credit
• Subsidized childcare
• SNAP
• Paid family and medical leave

Public

Education Campaign

Culture of Prevention

Drivers of Normalization

#1. Increasing knowledge

• Changing attitudes and mindsets extends from understanding of human development and importance of how adults interact with their children.
• Making scientific knowledge widely accessible catalyzes change in attitudes and behaviors.
• End goal—to spur shift in cultures, priorities & practices that, in turn, influence policies, distribution of resources and system level relationships.

Drivers of Normalization

#2. Incorporating science-informed practices into daily lives

• Can transform the way adults interact with each other and their children
• These fundamental units of interventions have been shown experimentally to influence specific behaviors.
• Integrating a wide range of practices and principles into daily interactions can broadly and sustainably promote health and well-being.
• Ultimate effects are a more equitable playing field.

Neuro-Nurturing is the intentional and holistic support of a child’s developing brain by meeting their physical, emotional, security, and cognitive needs in ways that foster optimal health, behavior, learning, and overall well-being.

​

It integrates essential elements—such as nutrition, movement, music, nurturing responsiveness, and creative exploration—to ensure a child’s innate, undefinable brilliance thrives.

​

Through attuned care, consistency, serve-and-return interactions, and rich opportunities for play, Neuro-Nurturing lays the foundation for lifelong confidence, self-worth, and authentic self-expression.

​

Dr. Dana Suskind helps society recognize the power & necessity of preventing early cognitive disparities that often give rise to behavioral and mental health problems.

​

The key to doing so is by supporting parents.

Healthy Brain Development In a Prevention Framework

Starting Point: Research questions to promote whole child health and wellbeing and, in turn, positive health outcomes

Greater investment in children is needed to reduce health disparities, to gain greater value for health care expenditures, to improve population health and is compelling for the following reasons:

Disproportionately Disadvantaged with the highest poverty rate and more often living in underserved and vulnerable communities, therefore most subject to social determinants of ill health and adversity.

Differential Diagnoses given that their conditions are highly diverse and complex requiring team-based care and integrated supports.

Developing brains and bodies are vulnerable and profoundly impacted by social and relational adversity

Dollars saved when responding early via prevention before conditions become intractable. Most effective approach in advancing health and wellbeing, yielding benefits over their lifetimes, and producing a ROI over many decades—for them, their families, communities, and our wider society.

​

Dependent on adults and the well-being of families and communities directly impact child health and well-being

Conditions that lead to negative outcomes are fundamentally alterable!

Adapted from Aronica et al., (n.d. ), Murphy, E. (2005) and Skolnik, R (2021)

Endorse this call to action and learn how to become a Decade of the Child Mission Promoter!

www.npscoalition.org diana.fishbein@npscoalition.org

Many Levels of Action to Spread Neuro-Nurturing

• Organizing and Aligning for Transformation
• Scaling up and Implementing Promising Models
• Upgrading & Enhancing Existing Efforts w/ Neuro-Nurturing
• Spreading an Understanding, Awareness & Support

​

Introducing Bill Barberg

Organizing and Aligning for Transformation

• Organizing and Aligning for Transformation

​

Build out a Theory of Transformation that incorporates many aspects of Neuro-Nurturing

Launching Lifelong Health

Written by Subject Matter Experts, not experts on social transformation.

Integrate Neuro-Nurturing into Larger (funded) Efforts

10-year Initiative

2025-2035

​

$255 million

About $17 million/state

15 State Medicaid Agencies Selected to Participate

Build out a Theory of Transformation that incorporates Neuro-Nurturing

Emerging Field: Social Transformation

Case Study on Transforming the Family Justice System

Implementing Population Health Strategies

Ch. 22

Implementing Population Health Strategies

Written by Bill Barberg

Access via the Post-Webinar Resources

Fatherhood Integration

Mental Health

Intergenerational Support

Preconception

Dietitian

Community Baby Showers

Community Village

Extensive Postpartum &Beyond Support

Mama & Child Neuro Support

Tools for Theories of Transformation (Strategy Maps)

• A Zoomable Strategy Map (using PowerPoint)
• A Wiki-based Interactive Strategy Map with robust supporting information (ARRCC)
• An interactive Strategy Engagement Platform (InsightVision)
• Manage the details of the strategy at many levels
• Measures, Targets, Data Trends, Links to reports
• Dynamic Action Plans of many partners

​

Neuro-Nurturing Theory of Transformation

ASSET & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Objectives

STRATEGY Objectives

Draft 0.6 – March 10, 2025

Outcome Objectives

Nurture Neurodevelopment & Strengthen Attachment

Improve Maternal & Child Health Outcomes

Improve Self-Regulation, Executive Functions, Language & Literacy, and School Readiness

Neuro-Nurturing Theory of Transformation

ASSET & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Objectives

STRATEGY Objectives

Draft 0.6 – March 10, 2025

Outcome Objectives

Nurture Neurodevelopment & Strengthen Attachment

Improve Maternal & Child Health Outcomes

Improve Self-Regulation, Executive Functions, Language & Literacy, and School Readiness

Zoom: Increase Fathers Supporting Neuro-Nurturing

ASSET & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Objectives

STRATEGY Objectives

Draft 0.5 – February 10, 2025

Increase Fathers Supporting Neuro-Nurturing in their Babies

Expand training for Fatherhood Doulas

Outcome Objectives

Increase Training for Fathers on Neuro-Nurturing

Increase Daddy Groups for Expecting and New Fathers

Help Fathers to Teach Emotional Literacy to their Children

Share & Enhance Programs to Help Fathers with Neuro-Nurturing

Access More Details in the Post-Webinar Resources

• Neuro Nurturing “Zoomable” Strategy Map
• More complete tour

​

• ACEs & Resilience Resource Commons for Communities (ARRCC)
• See more examples of content

​

• InsightVision
• See the functionality of an online Strategy Engagement Platform

What is a DAD Doula?

Initial Success in Wisconsin

• Began training expecting fathers on being fully engaged the pregnancy and birthing process.
• Contract with the Milwaukee Health Department
• In 2024, he trained about 150 fathers-to-be in groups of 6 to 15 men
• Generally done on two Saturdays (9 AM to 1:00 PM including lunch)
• Refined the curriculum and developed an eLearning version
• Began training Fatherhood Support Specialists to replicate the training, building on eLearning modules
• Established an online community for supports (chats, Zooms, MeetUps)
• Just got a contract with the State to expand

​

​

Scaling Up Training for Doula Dads

More Details on Doula Dad University

Adding in Neuro-Nurturing and Fatherhood Materials

• More training on early brain development and secure attachment
• Adding in practical tools – Like Wiggle & Sing, Canopie Maternal Mental Health app and other “secret sauce ingredients”
• Become a champion for Well Baby Visits
• Support better consistency with early childhood screening
• Be engaged with fatherhood support resources
• Become part of the Neuro-Nurturing Ecosystem

​

Possible Funding: Fatherhood FIRE

• Fatherhood – Family-focused, Interconnected, Resilient, Essential
• Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood Grants�Initially part of the bipartisan Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996
• Renewed by the Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden Administrations
• Currently delayed, but hopefully soon… (Scheduled due date of May 1)
• 66 grants of $400,000 to $1,250,000

​

Recommended ACTIONS:

• Organize your coalition and work on the strategy to be ready
• Integrate many low-cost innovations for Neuro-Nurturing
• Collaborate w/ others to deliver the most value for the dollar
• Find other funding for the low-cost options if the program is cancelled.

Supporting PACEs Connection and this Webinar Series

• Our desire to bring tremendous value to community coalitions for FREE
• This webinar series (and all the supporting resources)
• PACEs Connection site, social media network, resources, Groups
• The ARRCC wiki and Comprehensive Strategy Map Template
• We need funding and support to be able to continue this
• Sponsors (with branding) or Benefactors (generous donors)
• Grants (and help seeking and finding appropriate grants)
• Individual or organizational donors
• Fees for the Webinars? (with the post-webinar resources)
• $49 x 200 = $9,800 – Split between Webinar and PACEs Connection / ARRCC
• Engage organizations in high-value services for fees
• Options shared later

​

​

Agenda

• Introducing “Neuro-Nurturing”
• Face-to-Face Communication & Infant Brain Development
• The Engagement in Action (EnAct!) Framework & Launching Lifelong Health
• The DECADE OF THE CHILD
• Scaling up Neuro-Nurturing and Better Birth Outcomes
• Moving to Action with a Community Ecosystem
• Techniques and Tools
• Example of Engaging Fathers in Neuro-Nurturing
• Funding opportunities
• Calls to Action

Calls to Action

• Sign on to be a supporter of the DECADE OF THE CHILD
• Join PACEs Connection and engage with the content
• Encourage your local healthcare system and Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition to adopt the EnAct! Framework and the Well Visit Planner
• Meet with your local birthing justice coalitions about bringing in BBI
• Start the Creating Great Connections Public Awareness Campaign in your community.
• Participate in the Strategy Mapping & ARRCC Training program

​

Creating Great Connections

• Launching Lifelong Health, suggests that a strategy for improvement should start with public awareness campaigns.

​

• We are making it extremely easy for communities to begin to make strategic improvements right away.

​

• Creating Great Connections is a turnkey, grassroots, economical and powerful community wide public awareness campaign on the power and importance of Neuro-Nurturing, early childhood brain development, and Early Relational Health.

​

• For more information simply indicate your interest on the follow up feedback form you receive today!

​

• When you take advantage of this opportunity right away, you get a 50% off discount.

​

​

Strategy Mapping & ARRCC Training

• Three months (two Zoom Meetings per month)
• Using Strategy Mapping to Create a Theory of Transformation
• Supporting practices to improve alignment and implementation
• Coaching for sub-groups or organization
• eLearning Courses
• Fundamentals of Community Strategy Engagement
• Using the ACEs & Resilience Resource Commons for Communities (ARRCC) wiki
• Wealth of resources to simplify your journey
• Neuro-Nurturing Community Baby Showers
• Resources on many other topics, based on needs.
• Zoom to get input to refine the details and pricing (between $995 and $2,995)

​

​

Other Action Steps

• Fill out the Post-Webinar survey (immediately after; in tomorrow’s email)
• Share the recording with others
• Link
• Social Media Posts
• We’ll be emailing post-webinar action items
• Interested in Zoom Discussions?
• Engage with our team to work with coalitions in your state or community
• Help with financial support (donations, outreach to potential sponsors, grant-seeking, etc.)

Resources and Quick Feedback Survey

Thanks for being part of this effort!

Or Visit the Websites:

• www.Insightformation.com

​

​

Bill Barberg bill.barberg@insightformation.com

​

Search for me on LinkedIn and invite me to connect!

For Resources & More Information…