Growing Together: Building Early Relational Health for Stronger Families and Communities

A Learning Series hosted by Maryland Philanthropy Network's Prenatal to Five Funders Affinity Group

Science has shown us something powerful: the relationships babies and young children form with their parents and caregivers shape their health, learning, and resilience for a lifetime. These strong relationships are the foundation of thriving communities and a key driver of both educational success and a strong, stable workforce – today and in the future.

This three-part learning series on Early Relational Health (ERH) is your opportunity to engage with national and local experts, connect with fellow leaders, learn from inspiring real-world examples, and explore how fostering strong, nurturing relationships can transform the lives of infants, toddlers, and their families – laying a solid foundation for success in school, work and life.  

Rooted in cutting-edge science and decades of research, this series will highlight the biological, social, and systemic foundations of ERH. By supporting strong positive relationships in the first years of life, we can build resilience, improve health and well-being, and reduce adversity. The ERH approach is critical to preparing children thrive on their educational journey and to ensuring a healthy, prepared workforce now and for years to come.  

The series will unfold over the first quarter of 2025. While we are still finalizing details for the complete series, please hold the following dates:

• January 27 from 2:00 – 3:30 PM,
• February 11 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM,
• March 11 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM.

Series Speakers:

We are delighted to announce that the series will feature:

• Dr. David Willis, founder and director of Nurture Connection, and Professor of Pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine’s newly established Thrive Center for Children, Families and Communities;
• Ira Hillman, Strategy Lead, Bonding at the Einhorn Collaborative, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to addressing America’s growing crisis of connection.
• Atiya Weiss, Executive Director of the Burke Foundation, leading its mission to advance transformative programs and policies that promote the health, well-being, and resilience of children and families in New Jersey.
• We are working to round out this stellar line up with additional regional and national speakers. More details will be available soon.

What You’ll Experience:

• The Science of Connection: Understanding the neurobiological and ecological frameworks that underpin ERH and its role in fostering resilience and buffering adversity.
• Real Stories and Local Leaders: From national experts to grassroots leaders, our speakers will illustrate ways to put relational health into action.
• Practical Tools for Change: Discover how you can use ERH strategies to support young children, strengthen families and caregivers, and transform systems, including identifying funding strategies and policy levers to scale solutions that center early relationship development.
• Connection and Collaboration: Meet other funders and leaders who share your commitment to supporting young children as they grow and to their family’s success. Together, we’ll understand how these issues are connected, brainstorm, network, and build ideas to create lasting impact.

Why Now?

As advances in developmental and relational sciences continue to show the life-changing impact of early relationships on health, education, and economic outcomes, ERH offers practical solutions for today’s most pressing challenges. At a time when families, caregivers, and the systems that support them are stretched more than ever, strengthening these foundational relationships is key to building a healthier, more connected future for our communities.

Who Should Attend?

This series is designed for leaders and decision-makers across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC in public agencies, private organizations, and philanthropic foundations who are in the position of directing funding and financing toward young children, their families, and the systems that support them. You’ll gain fresh ideas, actionable strategies, and connections with peers who share your commitment to helping infants and toddlers, families, caregivers, and communities thrive.