Child & Youth Well-Being and Resilience
Through our research, we examine interdependent systems that support child and youth well-being, including mental and physical health, social and emotional adjustment, physiological stress responses and academic achievement.
Parent & Family Well-Being
We know that parents and families play a critical role in supporting children’s social, emotional and behavioral well-being, and their ability to develop resilience. We support these relationships by studying and sharing effective parenting practices based in mindfulness and self-compassion.
Supportive school, work and family environments
We’ve observed how families become resilient when they can draw on support from extended family, teachers, employers and care providers. We engage this network of supportive individuals and systems by sharing evidence-based trainings, workshops and tools.
Neighborhoods and communities
Through our research, we examine the effects of different kinds of adversities (such as social inequity, crime, economic status, and pollution) on neighborhoods and communities, and how these factors impact children’s well-being. Our findings are translated into culturally-informed programs and resources co-created with communities that experience inequity and adversity.
Social, economic and cultural contexts and policies
To thrive, all children and families need stable housing, food security, economic opportunity, freedom from violence and hate, health and mental health care, high-quality child-care and education. While our work focuses on supporting the social-emotional well-being of children and the adults in their lives, we situate our work in a recognition of and advocacy for safe, stable, nurturing relationships and contexts. We aim to inform policy by responsibly sharing current research in a variety of ways and convening “Research to Real World” forums that align policymakers, philanthropists, and practitioners around shared evidence-based efforts.
