Early Relational Health is the state of emotional well-being that grows from the positive emotional connection that babies and toddlers and their parents and caregivers experience with each other through everyday moments of caregiving and nurturing.
Why ERH Matters
Early Relational Health Core Story
One Message Unifying Many Voices
What is Getting in the Way?
All parents and caregivers know that positive connections with their children matter. However, social, racial, cultural, and economic injustices and challenges can overload families and communities, often taking a toll on parents/caregivers, young children, and their relational health. Because of barriers created by structural racism and a lack of policies designed to help families thrive, families do not have access to supports that are responsive to their needs.
What Must We Do?
To promote Early Relational Health in every community, we need to first listen to families to understand the challenges they are facing and what supports and services would work best for them.
We must then work together with families to create a shared vision to transform our communities, systems, programs, and policies, so that each and every family can experience the emotional well-being and joy that develop during those first days, months, and years of connecting and nurturing.
Equity: The Early Relational Health Mandate
Families Leading the Way to Advance Early Relational Health
Nurture Connection is guided by the lived experiences of families. Parents and caregivers are the experts for helping create healthier communities, one family at a time.