What does it take for children to become healthy and resilient adults? For decades, the search for answers focused almost exclusively on mitigating the impact of adverse experiences like poverty, racism and lack of opportunity. The HOPE National Resource Center, led by Tufts Medical Center's Dr. Robert Sege, is sfting this narrative to recognize the critical importance of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and strong relationships in helping kids thrive.
The Center is a global resource, training clinicians, teachers, families, faith-leaders and other partners to put the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) framework into action. The Center seeks to create systems of care that promote PCEs through a focus on:
- Strengthening relationships within the family and with other children and adults through interpersonal activities.
- Ensuring safe, equitable, stable environments for living, playing and learning at home and in school.
- Building social and civic engagement to develop a sense of belonging and connectedness.
- Providing opportunities for social and emotional growth.
This year, the Massachusetts legislature passed a resolution officially recognizing March 27 to 31 as a Week of HOPE to raise awareness of the power of PCEs and the role of parents and service providers in creating these experiences. The Week of HOPE coincides with the third annual virtual HOPE Summit, which will bring together 450 of participants for two intensive days of training and collaboration.
This week also marks the announcement of a new grant from Systems for Action, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, awarded to the Center, the New Jersey- based Faith-leaders Allied and Aligned to Institute Trust in the Home (FAAITH) project and the Shiloh Community Development Corporation. The grant will be used to expand a home visiting program to address racial disparities and inequities and to integrate the HOPE framework into the program. The Center's Director of Networks and Policy, Dr. Allison Stephens, alongside Shiloh Pastor, Rev. Darrell Armstrong, will support the use of the framework while collecting and analyzing data about inequities the church members face in medical, social and public health systems.
