At the close of 2024 — a year of both progress and change for Nurture Connection — we’re reaffirming our unwavering commitment to advancing Early Relational Health (ERH) with utmost clarity.
A major reason why we’re steadfast is we’ve seen the power of bringing together communities committed to relational abundance — with families at the center. For us, “relational abundance” means surrounding children in their early years with a strong community of positive, nurturing relationships. These emotional connections between caregivers and children are at the core of ERH — and are essential for building healthier, thriving communities.
Our own Dominique Charlot-Swilley, PhD — a member of the Nurture Connection Steering Committee and a part of the team at Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities at Georgetown University — beautifully communicated a broader vision of relational abundance:
“Nurture Connection can help reframe ‘wealth’ in terms of ‘relational abundance’ rather than material accumulation.
By shifting from individualistic frameworks to a more holistic, community-centered approach to health, we help promote wellness — not just within individuals but across entire communities.”
We can strengthen family well-being through collective caregiving, community-led solutions, and policies that help children and families feel connected. This year, we’re grateful for the abundance of community support that showed up for families:
Parent and Caregiver Community
From providing resources for parent-infant interactions to fostering supportive fatherhood to addressing the parental stress crisis — we’re proud to say that 2024 was the year of prioritizing the parent community and their expertise and leadership in helping build more connected, healthier communities:
We’re especially grateful for the parent leaders in Nurture Connection’s Family Network Collaborative, who continue to honor the wisdom and knowledge in their respective network of families and communities — and are teaching us about the importance of centering and lifting up “relational abundance,” which exists within each and every one of our communities.
Early Childhood Policy and Research
We also engaged the early childhood community and amplified their visionary work, which spanned practice transformation initiatives, systems change strategies, and building understanding around ERH through groundbreaking research. From policy papers on birthing justice to insightful reports like transforming the care of young children in community health centers, our impact network has brought new knowledge to the forefront.
Healthcare Provider Community
Working with — and learning from — pediatricians, infant mental health professionals, and many more healthcare providers has strengthened our collective ability to meet families where they are and honor their lived experiences.
Looking Ahead
In October 2024, Nurture Connection became anchored within Georgetown University’s Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities. In the coming months, we will build new relationships across the university — from pediatrics and child psychiatry to health policy and law — to continue to advance awareness around ERH and to continue to grow our national network’s capacities in parent leadership, practice transformation, workforce development, place-based initiatives, narrative and storytelling, and research that builds new understanding around ERH.
This year, we also welcomed seven new steering committee members, parent leaders, and an expanded ERH workforce to our network — and we’re excited to continue growing our community next year.
The National ERH Network is now over 130+ multidisciplinary leaders strong, gathering virtually quarterly to meet new members from across the early childhood field to learn of Nurture Connection’s progress and to join conversations about ERH innovations and Bright Spots. Members continue to express their gratitude and excitement from such conversations.
We also know that “relational abundance” can come from within — an inner commitment to staying the course even in face of change and adversity. Thank you for your dedication on this journey with us.
Onward with gratitude,
The Nurture Connection team
In the spirit of “reflecting forward,” our steering committee members share their reflections on what connection — the heart of ERH and abundance — means for them in the current moment.
“Promoting Early Relational Health with parents and caregivers helps decrease generational curses. It helps us reinforce stronger communities within communities.”
“Our nation now faces an unprecedented shift to uncertainty and rapidly shifting priorities as we transition to the new administration and Congress. Yet Nurture Connection remains steadfast to its core beliefs of Early Relational Health to advance the flourishing for children, families, and communities; to promote empathic human development; and to elevate connectedness, belonging, and kindness. It’s about doubling down on the basics — the power of nurturing and loving care for those of our present and future.”
“The pandemic has deepened our understanding of relational health. The foundations of relational health are established during infancy through early relationships, shaping social and emotional development. These early experiences begin teaching humans how to manage emotions effectively, express themselves appropriately, build positive connections, and develop empathy. It is our responsibility to ensure every child has a strong foundation for lifelong emotional and mental well-being for themselves and our society.”
“At this moment in time, Nurture Connection is positioned to meaningfully advance the wide-scale promotion of Early Relational Health. We develop and elevate evidence-based strategies that are guided by and resonate with both the parents and caregivers with lived experience of the challenges that face families raising young children and the wide range of communities across the U.S.”
“Families throughout our country are facing incredible challenges. They are worried about whether they have enough money to meet their children’s basic needs. They live in fear of deportation and worry about the impact of climate change on their family and community. Regardless of where they sit on the political continuum, they wonder how the divisiveness of the presidential campaign will impact their lives and that of their children.
In the context of all this, we know that the bond between a child and their caregivers provides the foundation to a healthy and secure childhood and a joyful and fulfilling experience to the adults in their lives. Nurture Connection not only works to promote the kinds of family-promoting policies that relieve pressures on families but also works to ensure that all services that families need to raise their children encourage the connections that are vital to a stronger family, community, and society.”
“In times of enormous uncertainty and challenges, it is tempting to think that only big and sweeping changes can make any difference. Yet for a child, a family, or a colleague, it is the simple and ordinary moments that truly express care, earn trust, and nourish relational health.”
“As human beings, we need connections with others to thrive. Supportive relationships fill us with contentment and gratitude during happy moments in our lives. These same relationships give us strength and comfort to withstand change and uncertainty. These relationships form the basis of our most cherished memories and even shape our sense of ourselves. We must remember that the work of Nurture Connection to promote strong, positive, and nurturing relationships to build healthier, more connected communities is at its core about harnessing the innate human capacity to care and love. Our work is ever relevant, and that’s the North Star that must guide us at this moment and in the future.”
“In this season of giving gifts and giving thanks, I am grateful for the gift of Nurture Connection to the fields of health, early childhood, and family flourishing. With its new partnership with the Thrive Center at Georgetown and its deep connection to the voices of parents through the Family Network Collaborative, Nurture Connection is even more strongly positioned to advance Early Relational Health and support the healing and repair that this country needs right now. It is heartening to see the philanthropic community embracing strong, positive, and nurturing parent-child relationships as foundational to human development and a healthy democracy.”
Reflecting Forward After the Election
As we process the outcome of this year’s election, many of you might be reflecting — now or eventually — on how these changes will affect infants, toddlers, and their families, perhaps even your own. On our end, Nurture Connection’s commitment to nurturing strong, positive relationships for every child remains steadfast.
As with any change, we hope everyone is creating environments rooted in love, connection, and support — just like you are for thousands of children and families.
As early childhood providers, practitioners, and parents, you do valuable work in your communities — work that matters. Through partnership building, new alliances, and the development of innovative solutions, we can and will meet the needs and challenges for today’s families so that each and every child has the chance to thrive in a loving community.
We thank you for your courage and dedication to building supported and connected families and communities. Our collective mission continues on, and we remain humbled and excited about the possibilities of all that we can accomplish together.
With gratitude,
The Nurture Connection team