On Tuesday, August 25th, 2026, Nurture Connection a dynamic conversation and panel Q&A between members from an early measurement task force of researchers, practitioners, and parent leaders who are designing an ERH measurement strategy that reimagines how we measure changes in relational health at the individual, population, and systems levels. Over six months, this team has been developing their proposal for a measurement framework co-designed with parents and communities, that supports the development of strength-based initiatives for advancing ERH and improving ERH outcomes for individuals across programs, systems, and communities.
Panelists included Nikki Shearman, Ph.D. (Chief of Research & Evaluation, Reach Out and Read), David W. Willis, MD, FAAP, (Founder & Director, Nurture Connection); researchers Tyson Barker (Executive Director, Praidea), Dani Dumitriu, MD, PhD (Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Center for Early Relational Health, Columbia University), Maeve Winters, M.A. (Research Coordinator, Interpersonal Synchrony and Connection (InSynC) Lab, Center for Early Relational Health, Columbia University), and Sunny Patel (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Georgetown University); and parent leader Tiffany Solomon (Reach Out and Read).
Presenters discussed the process of engaging parent leaders and parents in the co-design process, and how this collaboration helped identify observational gaps as well as new opportunities that informed the measurement framework.
Guest Speakers (Bios):
- David W. Willis, MD, FAAP, Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Georgetown University Thrive Center for Children, Families and Communities; Founder and Director, Nurture Connection
- Tyson Barker, PhD, M.A., Executive Director, Praidea
- Dani Dumitriu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Center for Early Relational Health, Columbia University
- Maeve Winters, M.A., Research Coordinator, Interpersonal Synchrony and Connection (InSynC) Lab, Center for Early Relational Health, Columbia University
- Sunny Patel, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, and faculty member, Thrive Center for Children, Families and Communities at Georgetown University
- Tiffany Solomon, Parent Leader, Reach Out and Read
Moderated by:
- Nikki Shearman, Ph.D, Chief of Research & Evaluation, Reach Out and Read
- Watch the webinar recording
- Webinar slides:
- Discover more reflections from parent leaders in our Power of Codesign in Research webinar series:
- Part I: “How Parent Partnership Supports Practice Transformation” (June 2025) – Read here and watch the Part I recording
- Part II: “Centering Parent Voices to Learn About Parent-Child Relationships” (October 2025) – Learn more here and watch the Part II recording
- Part III: “Research Transformation Through Parent Codesign” (June 2026) – Learn more here and watch the Part III recording
- Learn more about the science of early relationships:
- Read more about ERH science as well as Dani’s ERH research work at CERH
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- Read the new NASEM Consensus report Early Relational Health: Building Foundations, which emphasizes asset-based approaches, family and community leadership, workforce supports, and cross-sector collaboration to promote ERH across health care, education, and social systems – Read here
- Other links and resources shared during the presentation:
- Learn more about the Center for Early Relational Health (CERH): www.vagelos.columbia.edu/CERH
- Learn more about Reach Out and Read: https://reachoutandread.org/
- Learn more about the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities at Georgetown University: https://thrivecenter.georgetown.edu/
- Learn more about Praidea at praidea.org
- Learn more about the David M. Einhorn Institute for Early Relational Health