Re-Wiring Family Policies with Brain Science

On Thursday, September 28, Ascend hosted the Brain Science and Positive Parenting roundtable discussion to discuss the latest research and jumpstart action on behalf of family mental health. The roundtable brought together over 30 leaders across brain science, positive parenting approaches, direct-service programs, and policy to explore opportunities and challenges to applying new research to innovations in moving parents toward health and opportunity. This convening is part of an ongoing partnership with the Ford Foundation to increase understanding about and support for positive parenting interventions, and builds on July’s strategic conversation on maternal depression and positive parenting.

Ascend Fellow Dr. Sarah Watamura of the University of Denver and Ascend Network Partner Dr. Megan Smith of The New Haven Mental Health Outreach for MotherS (MOMS) Partnership shared powerful research and lessons learned from brain science and applied programs on parenting. Read more in Two Open Windows: Infant and Parent Neurobiologic Change, by Drs. Pilyoung Kim and Watamura.

A sense of urgency energized the room as federal, state, and community leaders shared how brain science research has been woven into family programs and services, highlighting the successes and challenges faced.

• Lili Elkins, Chief Strategy Officer at Roca, Inc., gave an overview of Roca’s model that works with very high-risk, young, single mothers;
• Ruthie Liberman, Vice President for Public Policy at Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), previously known as Crittenton Women’s Union, discussed EMPath’s efforts to inject brain science into its economic stability framework and assessment;
• Darius Tandon, Associate Professor at the Medical Social Sciences Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, shared outcomes of the Mothers and Babies program; and
• Amanda Innes Dominguez, Team Lead for Policy and Technical Assistance at the US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), gave an overview of the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV)

Some successes and recommendations discussed include: building cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) into job readiness programs, using paraprofessionals when possible, and initiating data sharing agreements among like-minded partners.

Ascend looks forward to bringing together a small group of leaders and experts in November 2017 to sift through the valuable data, insights, and recommendations stemming from this discussion and previous convenings on brain science to produce an actionable report for partners, policymakers, and community leaders.