Bright Spots, August 2018

Every Child Succeeds, From Cradle to Career 

Here’s an update on recent “Bright Spots” in our journey to ensure the success of every Bridgeport child: 

Bridgeport Prospers Earns National Recognition

Bridgeport Prospers has been recognized by StriveTogether, a national non-profit working to bring communities together around data to make decisions and improve results for kids.   Notably, we have been elevated within the StriveTogether Cradle to Career network to the "Sustaining Gateway" benchmark.  

Executive Director Allison Logan commented:  "I want to thank our community partners and Bridgeport Prospers/United Way team members for your support that helped to carry us to this major accomplishment."

Gaining particular recognition is the "Baby Bundle," a group of initiatives designed to ensure that all children are healthy and ready for preschool at age three. StriveTogether has invited Bridgeport Prospers to highlight this work at its annual conference in Seattle in October.

"Bridgeport Prospers is making significant strides in how partners work together to use data to improve results for kids," StriveTogether President and CEO Jenifer Blatz said.  "We congratulate Bridgeport Prospers for the progress they are making and look forward to recognizing them when they reach more milestones along their journey to enable economic mobility for students and families."

The buzz around the "Baby Bundle" is spreading to other national organizations as well.  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) hosted a national webinar featuring the "Baby Bundle" for the Maternal and Infant Health Bureau in March.  And The Campaign for Grade Level Reading recognized Bridgeport as a "Bright Spot" at its national conference in Philadelphia in July. 

StriveTogether establishes a continuum of "gateways"--or quality benchmarks--for its members, which signal a partnership's progression toward sustained impact on children's outcomes.

StriveTogether is a national movement of 70 member communities involving 10,800 organizations in 30 states and Washington, D.C., impacting 10.4 million children.  

Partnering with CT Medicaid to Improve Outcomes for Young Children

Bridgeport Prospers has been named as a partner in the State of Connecticut’s Medicaid redesign work in order to improve health and outcomes for young children in at-risk families.  This work is led by the Connecticut Department of Social Services, under the direction of Commissioner Roderick Bremby.  It is part of a national initiative known as the Medicaid Early Childhood Innovation Lab.

The goal of this work to develop upstream innovations focused on prevention, early detection, and early intervention for young children and their families.  Shifting focus of service delivery is critical because the first 1000 days of a child’s life lay the foundation for cognitive, physical and social development that lasts a lifetime.  Babies born" at risk" are more likely to suffer immediate and long term health problems, behavioral problems, and educational challenges.  Medicaid is uniquely poised to help during this key stage since it covers nearly half of all births and 40% of all children in the US.  In Bridgeport, Medicaid covers 65% of all births.

Connecticut is one of three states (along with two health agencies) that are members of the Medicaid Early Childhood Innovation Lab. The City of Bridgeport will be a pilot site for testing and refining these strategies, impacting hundreds of babies born “at risk” each year.  Lessons learned will be shared broadly with stakeholders across the country.

Executive Director Allison Logan and child expert/team consultant Dr. Janice Gruendel are joining other partners from the Office of Early Childhood, the Department of Children and Families, the State Department of Education, and other early childhood organizations to design and implement new strategies outlined in the Bridgeport Baby Bundle.  To date, strategies include depression screening for moms (before and after birth), regular developmental screenings for children, and whole-family services like universal home visits during a child’s first three years.

The initiative is convened by the Center for Health Care Strategies and supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the David & Lucille Packard Foundation.

Spotlight on New Team Member:  Gwendolyn Brantley

We are proud to welcome Gwendolyn Brantley to the team in the role of Youth Innovation Specialist, where she will lead Bridgeport Prospers youth initiatives.

Gwen will collaborate with community partners to improve outcomes in 5 areas identified by our Community Action Networks:  Youth Safety, Middle Grade Math Proficiency, High School Graduation, College Enrollment/Graduation, and Youth Careers.  

Gwen’s first project is the development of a STEM Learning Ecosystem in Bridgeport.  A STEM ecosystem will provide the architecture for cross-sector learning, offering all young people access to STEM-rich learning environments.  “The goal is for students here to develop important engagement and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics so that they can be successful in the modern US economy,” commented Brantley.  

Collaborators will include youth and families, schools, businesses, faith leaders, unions, out-of-school programs, community-based organizations, and STEM expert institutions.  Importantly, the Bridgeport ecosystem is seeking to become part of a national network of 60 STEM communities which will share resources, best practices, and technical assistance.

Her investment in the success of Bridgeport youth runs deep.  After all, Gwen grew up and attended public schools here.  She has been a Bridgeport Prospers volunteer since 2014, serving on both the Youth Engagement and the Data Tables. 

Gwen is the founder and Executive Director of ACCESS Educational Services.  She holds a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State University and an M.S. from the University of Bridgeport. 

“Bridgeport Basics” Initiative to Roll Out Through Partnerships

The “Bridgeport Basics” will begin rolling out to local families through the help of our community partners.

To date, 11 partners have signed on to share “The Basics.”  These partners represent a variety of sectors from healthcare, to childcare and education, to government organizations like schools and libraries.   The goal is “sociological saturation,” so that The Basics are shared with caregivers in places they already know, by people they already trust.  Available materials include free videos, handouts, posters, booklets, and workshop presentations.  Most partners will begin sharing information in the Fall, though Read to Grow is already sharing The Basics with families who have babies at local Bridgeport Hospitals.

“We want to ensure that all parents and caregivers can access information, support, and positive reinforcement for doing The Basics,” stated Ron Ferguson, Basics founder and director of the Harvard Achievement Gap Initiative. 

Bridgeport Prospers is seeking additional partners to help spread the word.

The Basics are five evidence-based caregiving practices designed for children from birth to three.  They cover much of what experts agree is important for young children.  Developed by the Harvard Achievement Gap Initiative, they were inspired by three key facts:  

• 80% of a child’s brain development happens in the first three years;

• Skill gaps based on race, income, and ethnicity are evident as early as age two;

• ​Positive early caregiving experiences can build young brains.

According to Ferguson, “The Basics are five simple, powerful things families can do to help give young children a great start in life.”  The hope is that doing The Basics with young children can prevent the achievement gap from opening in the first place. 

State Budget Funds Collective Impact                        

Good news for collective impact initiatives:  the 2019 Connecticut State Budget includes line item funding for Cradle to Career Initiatives. 

The budget allocates $100,000 to be shared by the state’s four Cradle to Career Initiatives:  Bridgeport Prospers, Norwalk Acts, Stamford Cradle to Career, and Waterbury Bridge to Success.   It was passed with bi-partisan support and signed by Governor Malloy in May.  Rep. Ezequiel Santiago (D-Bridgeport) was instrumental in the funding.  He commented:

“I am pleased to have played a major role in support of the Collective Impact budget line item that supports our Cradle to Career efforts through the organized collaboration of a number of indispensable non-profit organizations across the state. I thank the United Way for all of their commitment and dedicated work and look forward to the continued coordinated delivery of services that contribute to effective outcomes.”

Collective Impact movements seek to convene cross-sector partners to improve outcomes for every child. Partners range from parents and educators to civic leaders and local employers. Together, they seek success across the youth continuum: from kindergarten readiness, to grade-level achievement, to high school graduation, to college enrollment and career readiness.

All four initiatives are members of the nationally-acclaimed StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network.  

Backbone funding for the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford initiatives is provided by the United Way.

Growing Awareness of the Impact of Childhood Trauma

Together, Bridgeport Prospers and community partners are raising awareness of the lifelong impact of childhood trauma.

They are doing so by screening the documentary “Resilience” for a variety of audiences.

To date, we have licensed 13 partners to share the documentary; in turn, they have hosted 10 screenings reaching an additional 264 members of the community.  Audience members have ranged from civic leaders to college students, from healthcare providers to community service providers, from educators to the families they serve. 

And the impact continues.  More screenings are planned for the Fall.  Meanwhile, partners are providing additional training for their staff members.  The overall goal is to increase trauma screenings and trauma-informed care in all community sectors (health, education, faith, community service).

Bridgeport Prospers began the conversation last December by screening the documentary for 120 community partners.  “Resilience” shows how repeated stress can trigger hormones that change children’s brains and bodies, putting them at risk for poor school performance, violence, even prison time, disease, and early death.  But treatment of underlying trauma can help interrupt the cycles of violence, addition, and disease.

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Download a PDF of this Bright Spots, August 2018 newsletter here.

Bright Spots, April 2018

Here’s an update on recent “Bright Spots” in our journey to ensure the success of every Bridgeport child: 

Growing Awareness of Toxic Stress:   “Resilience” Documentary Impact

Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary “Resilience” reveals, TOXIC STRESS can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death.

“Resilience,” however, also heralds the birth of a movement that is determined to fight back. Pediatricians, educators, and therapists are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to disrupt the cycles of violence, addiction, and disease.

Bridgeport Prospers screened this documentary for 120 community partners in December.  Our goal was to boost awareness of “The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope” in order to increase trauma screenings and trauma-informed practice in all community sectors (healthcare, education, community service, faith).

Our community partners are continuing the conversation.  Currently, thirteen partners have approved agreements and licenses to screen the documentary for their own constituents.  Audiences range from childcare providers, to health or community service staff, to college/high school students.  Many screenings are scheduled during April and May, several during the Week of the Young Child (April 16-20). 

Meanwhile, national awareness of the effects of childhood trauma is also growing.  Recently, Oprah Winfrey’s segment on 60 Minutes highlighted the need for trauma-informed care as a “game changer.”  Winfrey notes that efforts to help children and families are working on “the wrong thing….You must first fix the hole in the soul…  When we see a kid misbehaving, the question we should be asking is not “What’s wrong with that child,” but rather ‘What happened to that child?’”

For a summary of the “Resilience” documentary and an understanding of how stress affects a child’s health, click here. 

For a complete list of BP partners and planned “Resilience” screenings, click here.  

For Oprah’s segment on 60 Minutes, click here.

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New Partnerships to Advance Our Common Goals

Building partnerships with community stakeholders is vital to improving outcomes for Bridgeport children.  Happily, we have 2 new partners who have joined forces with us:  the City of Bridgeport Heath Department and Bridgeport Hospital.

The City of Bridgeport Health Department has signed a formal agreement to share data about resident health, most recently providing statistics on babies born in the city and their moms.  Director Maritza Bond will also serve on our Core Leadership Team.  Both parties have also agreed to support each other’s health outcome goals in their individual strategic plans.

Bridgeport Hospital and Bridgeport Prospers are joining forces to advance infant health and maternal mental health.  Bridgeport Hospital CEO Bill Jennings is a key member of our Core Leadership Team. Currently, we are working with the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation and President Steve Jakab to seek funding for initiatives in this area.  Our efforts will also be supported by the technical expertise of the Institute for Child Success (ICS).

Also, Bridgeport Prospers Executive Director Allison Logan has been invited to serve on the newly-formed Public Health Advisory Committee of the Bridgeport Department of Health & Social Services (BDHSS).  The committee’s purpose is three-fold:  (1) identify public health priorities based community health assessments; (2) guide the implementation of programs/practices/policies that are evidence-based to improve health outcomes; (3) increase service coordination among partners. 

These partnerships show Collective Impact at work!                    

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Bridgeport Basics Launched

To help ensure Bridgeport children are Healthy and Ready by Three, we have launched the Bridgeport Basics.

The Bridgeport Basics are five fun, simple, and powerful ways that every family can give every child a great start in life.  They’re important because about 80% of a child’s brain growth happens by age 3.  Experts agree that these 5 principles cover much of what’s important for this age group for early brain development and long-term learning.

The 5 Basics are:  maximize love & manage stress;  talk, sing, and point;  count, group, and compare;   explore through movement and play;  and read and discuss stories.

The Basics may seem simple, but they have serious credentials.  They stem from the Boston Basics: evidence-based parenting principles developed by the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University.  Their lead creator, Professor Ron Ferguson, has studied achievement gaps based on race and socioeconomic status and found that the gaps are already stark by the time children turn 2 years old.  Ferguson and his partners are hopeful that teaching caregivers the Basics can help close those achievement gaps.

Currently, Bridgeport Prospers is developing plans to roll out the Basics to the community with the help of partners such as pediatricians, schools, health centers, childcare providers, churches and home visiting staff.   Stay tuned.  

To view videos and booklets describing these principles, click here.

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Bridgeport Chosen as One of Three Pilot Sites for NIC Data Sharing Project

DSS Commissioner Rod Bremby has named Bridgeport as the pilot site for a data-sharing project sponsored by the National Interoperability Collaborative (NIC) and funded by the Kresge Foundation. 

The NIC Initiative will increase collaboration and data-sharing across all domains that impact education, health, and safety.  It will create a community of networks that will use the latest technology and data, optimize existing resources, and share tools and best practices in order to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable communities.

The NIC was created by the Stewards of Change Institute (SOCI) and AcademyHealth, and funded by a $1.2 million grant from the Kresge Foundation.  Other current partners include the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the Silicon Valley Regional Data Trust (SVRDT), and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HMSSS). 

The NIC seeks to make different data systems interoperable, which means that systems in different organizations can share and interpret each other’s data. As SOCI President Daniel Stein explains, “So much knowledge and so many tools exist to deliver fare better care than we’re currently doing.  But most systems still operate in solos, so we’re not learning from each other or optimizing…existing resources. “  

To help prepare for the project launch, Bridgeport Prospers Executive Director Allison Logan attended the recent NIC Symposium in Sacramento, CA on March 26-27, 2018.

For more info on the NIC, click here.

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Bridgeport Prospers “Bright Spots” Presented in National HRSA Webinar

Bridgeport Prospers work was highlighted in a recent national webinar hosted by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the US Dept. of Health & Human Services.   The webinar was part of the Virtual Grand Rounds series for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 

The presentation was delivered by Allison Logan and Janice Gruendel, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Institute for Child Success.  The team highlighted “Bright Spots” in our efforts to ensure that all Bridgeport babies are “Healthy and Ready by Three,” that is, that they reach expected health and developmental benchmarks. 

These highlights ranged from parent education and support (“Bridgeport Basics”), to universal home visiting and developmental screening, to data-sharing agreements with government and community partners (NIC).

In response to the presentation, Dr. David Willis, Director of the Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems at HRSA, stated, “Your vision is an inspiration to all of us. The ability to articulate with clarity the voice of families and community at the center and bring it back to policymakers is really essential at this time.”

The webinar audience included Home Visiting staff, staff from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and colleagues from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

Creating a high profile for Bridgeport Prospers can help advance our initiatives through partner collaboration and funding.

To view the presentation, click here.

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YOU can be a Bright Spot for Bridgeport children:  Read a Book to Preschoolers on April 18th!

 Please join 100 volunteers on April 18th in our annual city-wide Read Aloud to preschoolers.  It’s a great chance to share a book and a laugh, while helping children build literacy skills.  Readings will be at 9:30 & 10 am.

This year’s book is Sam, the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World by Mo Williams.  Every classroom will keep the copy to enjoy again and again. 

The effort is part of the Week of the Young Child, a yearly event hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  The event celebrates early learning, young children, teachers, and families.

To register, click here.   

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Bridgeport Prospers is a collective impact initiative.  That means we:

• Work collaboratively with diverse community partners and stakeholders.

• Share data to gain a common understanding of a problem, and establish a vision for solving it.

• Use facts to make decisions and adjust course, investing in what works.

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Questions or comments:  Email us at gcarroll@unitedwaycfc.org or call 203-339-6321