Meet Eurnestine Brown, PhD, Our New Director of Relational Equity and Belonging |
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We are honored to officially welcome Dr. Eurnestine Brown as the first Director of Relational Equity and Belonging at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center and first Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Developmental Medicine (DDM) Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Dr. Brown is a developmental psychologist, and her specialty areas include African American children and families, adolescent pregnancy and prenatal development, children and families in poverty, racial and gender inequities, parental socialization practices and early childhood social development, Early Head Start and Head Start, and resiliency.
Dr. Brown recently became a Doula, completed the Brazelton Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system training, moderated BTC’s Parenting While Black—a 6-week, free webinar series for and by Black parents—and received an additional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workplace certification. She hopes to expand her work with pregnant and expectant families and the Doula community to address racial and health inequities in families of color. In this Q&A, she shares her vision for her new role, how BTC is moving forward and towards its vision of becoming an anti-racist and more equitable, inclusive and embracing organization, and a special passion she shares with her son.
How do you define relational equity and belonging? To me, relational equity and belonging begin with reflection, expanded awareness, and a commitment to action for change. It starts with knowing your “Why” and your “What.” Why are you embracing the call to action towards equity, and what is the quality of the relationships you wish to engage in is as you embrace this call? You amplify your “What” and “Why” with your words and actions. Words matter; actions matter. Together, we aspire to apply our awareness and commitment to activate and sustain relational equity and belonging at multiple levels and within and across multiple systems and structures.
Relational equity and belonging include yet move beyond fairness, being welcomed, valued, and accountable. They also mean recognizing the historical, political, and social roots of today’s inequities. We are not all starting from the same place; we do not have the same access, opportunities, and experiences that permit us to thrive. We must first ensure racial, social, economic, and political equity before we can all enjoy the fruits of equality.
What are your goals for your new position? I see my role as ensuring that all of us have an authentic place at the table and that each voice is heard. That’s what motivates me. That’s the core of why I do this work. At BTC, we are all about relationships. We are trying to do the best that we can in the moment that we are in. Our goal is to always operate from an affirming place and not be afraid of having those courageous conversations. We learn something, and then we unlearn it, and then we learn something again. It’s critical to have a vision and to keep learning and engaging.
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New Tool Promotes Productive Provider-Family Conversations about Children's Development |
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The Brazelton Touchpoints Center has developed a new tool to help family-facing providers have productive and collaborative conversations with families about their child’s development, and specifically about developmental screening results. Created in partnership with Ariadne Labs, the Development is a Journey Conversation Roadmap facilitates these conversations with seven short, simple steps to actively engage parents and other caregivers in discussing and planning for their child’s developmental needs.
“Conversations about developmental concerns and screening results can be anxiety-provoking for families and providers, and often there is a very little time for them,” said Dr. Jayne Singer, Director of Developmental and Relational Health at BTC and a member of the team that developed the tool. “Yet early identification and intervention is critical to promote a child’s optimal development. This new Roadmap guides providers and families to co-create a shared vision and action plan that supports the best outcomes for the child.”
BTC partnered with Ariadne Labs to develop the tool using principles of human-centered design, including interviews with an advisory coalition comprised of parents, pediatric practitioners, early interventionists, early educators, and other family-facing providers. Advisory coalition members were asked about their experiences with developmental screening conversations and rapid-cycle testing of prototypes with pediatricians and parents. The tool was iteratively improved, and advanced versions were tested with virtual focus groups that also included providers and parents.
“As we designed, tested, and re-tested the tool, we felt it was important to focus on and elevate the family’s perspective and experience, and recognize racial and other cultural influences in the developmental screening process,” said Dr. Dewana Thompson, Director of the Touchpoints National Facilitator Team and another member of the project team. “We hope the result will be provider-parent conversations that celebrate the child and families’ strengths, acknowledge and respect cultural differences, recognize the biases that are inherent in some screening tools, recognize that parents are the experts on their child, honor the child’s behavior and what it tells us, and co-construct responses to developmental concerns that everyone will feel good about.”
The original scope of the project was targeted to in-person well-child primary care pediatric visits. Because the coronavirus pandemic arose halfway through the project, the final tool was designed so it can be used in both in-person and virtual visits. Stakeholder feedback revealed the value of a similar tool for other family-facing providers. The result is three versions of the Conversation Roadmap: one for pediatric primary care providers, another for home visitors, and a third for early care and education providers. Each version is accompanied by an Implementation Guide that describes how to use the Roadmap in your family engagement conversations with parents and other family caregivers.
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Interested in attending a training to learn how to use the Conversation Roadmap with families?
Sign up to be the first to learn when trainings are scheduled! |
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Postdoctoral Fellow Co-authors New Paper |
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Dr. Christina Mondi-Rago, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at BTC in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, and a Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has co-authored a new paper published by the International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy.
Titled “Fostering social-emotional learning through early childhood intervention,” the paper reviews the academic literature on socio-emotional learning (SEL) in three different types of early interventions: (a) public preschool programs; (b) multi-component early education programs (i.e., Head Start, Child-Parent Center program); and (c) skills-based SEL interventions (i.e., Incredible Years, Kindness Curriculum).
Dr. Mondi-Rago and her co-authors found that all three types of interventions can benefit young children’s socio-emotional skills (i.e., social awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making), which are strongly associated with lifelong learning, well-being, and mental health. They also identified important gaps in knowledge and practice about how to best measure SEL in ways that are developmentally and culturally appropriate. The findings have implications for future research, early childhood practice, and policy—especially since the three types of interventions that were reviewed have varying levels of evidence about cost-effectiveness and potential to be implemented at large scales.
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Online Touchpoints Trainings |
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After the coronavirus pandemic shut down in-person trainings, in May 2020 BTC launched its first online Brazelton Touchpoints training, Touchpoints: The How of Child and Family Engagement. Since then, we have facilitated 33 online trainings, providing over 700 hours of professional development and reaching more than 600 participants! Each training is highly interactive, with no more than 18 participants, and includes live webinars, asynchronous learning activities and discussion, and virtual reflective practice sessions. CEUs are available for specific disciplines.
This training is offered through our online course catalog to individual providers (in early childhood education; perinatal, pediatric, and mental health; home visiting; child welfare; family resource centers; and other family-facing disciplines) , and to organizations and programs seeking to train their staff or specific groups. Since May of last year, more than two-thirds of our Touchpoints trainings have been conducted for such groups, including the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, Evergreen Recovery Centers, California Library Association, and many more! When we bring our training to you, we can accommodate your organization’s schedule and professional learning goals. Contact us to learn how we can bring Touchpoints to you -- in person or virtually!
Participant surveys indicate high satisfaction with the online training and new virtual tools, as well as increased knowledge and skills. Virtual trainings are less costly than in-person programs, making them accessible to a broader range of agencies and providers.
Price: $750 BTC Learning Network Member Price: $725 (Click here to learn about joining the BTC Learning Network.)
Brazelton Touchpoints is an evidence-based approach to building strong family-child relationships from before birth through age 5. Providers who implement Touchpoints in their practice partner with families to lay the vital foundation for children’s early learning and healthy development.
Upcoming Touchpoints Trainings!
July 2021, beginning July 12 -- SOLD OUT!
July 2021, beginning July 26 -- This offering explores how to apply Touchpoints when working with families affected by children’s developmental challenges!
October 2021, beginning October 4 -- Register
January 2022, beginning January 10 -- Register |
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Registration is open for several BTC webinars this summer! Take some time to invest in your own professional learning, or the professional development of your staff. Group registration is available! Our interactive webinars include a certificate of attendance and live Spanish translation! If you can’t attend a live session, register to receive access to the recording.
In addition to the events listed below, we offer webinars on strengths-based family engagement, supporting families’ and providers’ mental health, children’s social and emotional well-being, and more. We also can bring our webinars to your specific group! Contact us to learn how we can help you meet your team’s professional learning goals! |
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New Webinar! Supporting Young Children and Families in the Return to Early Learning Settings Thursday, July 15 @ 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
Young children, families, and professionals in early education settings are all feeling the particular stress of "returning to normal" after the past year of virtual and hybrid learning formats. Learn how Brazelton Touchpoints—an evidence-based, relational approach to family engagement—can help providers support young children returning to early learning settings and partner with families in their children’s learning and development. This webinar is 60 minutes. Price: $30 BTC Learning Network Member Price: $28 |
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New Webinar Series! Beyond Trauma-Informed Care: A Developmental-Relational Framework for Engaging Adults and Children in Healing and Resilience Three Tuesdays, beginning July 20 @ 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
Participants will learn how to better understand and respond with empathy to behavior displayed by children and adults who have experienced trauma, while also supporting their development of a greater sense of trust and safety. Key concepts and strategies from the Brazelton Touchpoints Developmental and Relational Frameworks will be woven throughout the series. Each webinar is 90 minutes.
Price: $30/webinar or $75 for all 3 Webinars BTC Learning Network Member Price: $28/webinar or $70 for all 3 |
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Save the Dates! New Webinar Series on Having Challenging Conversations with Families Three Tuesdays: August 31, Sept. 7 & 14 @ 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
At the end of the summer, we will be launching a new series on how to have meaningful and productive conversations with families about challenging topics and concerns. Look for registration to open soon! |
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Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change Returns in the Fall!
Don’t miss these free conversations exploring critical issues facing families and communities. Mark your calendars today!
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha -- Environmental Justice: Listening to Children and Families in Flint, Michigan Wednesday, September 29 @ 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT
Dr. Loretta Ross -- Instead of Calling Out, Conversations for Calling In Wednesday, October 20 @ 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT
Dr. Hinemoa Elder -- Indigenous Wisdom for Listening to Children and Families Wednesday, December 8 @ 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT |
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The Newborn Behavioral Observations system (NBO) is an infant-focused, family-centered relationship-building tool designed to sensitize parents to their baby’s competencies, challenges, and individuality with the goal of fostering the development of a positive parent-infant relationship from the very beginning. Online trainings are team-taught by two faculty with an emphasis on interactive exchange and hands-on practice.
Price: $650 non-physicians / $750 physicians
Training Dates:
July 12, 13 & 14, 12:30 to 5 PM ET -- SOLD OUT!
September 15 & 16, 9 AM to 5 PM ET (for professionals working with high-risk infants)
September 20, 21 & 22, 12:30 to 5 PM ET |
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Would you like to bring a BTC webinar or training to your program, organization, or community?
Our facilitators can offer our courses and webinars online to your specific group. We can also customize trainings to meet your program’s or organization’s professional development needs. |
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Please join us in welcoming Kyla Williams to the “virtual” BTC office! Kyla is a new Research Assistant for the Research and Evaluation team. She is a 2021 graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, where she earned a B.S. in Neuroscience, with a concentration in Biology and Chemistry. While at Xavier, Kyla worked in a chemistry lab, co-authored three papers, and presented her research at local and national conferences. She also worked as a Supplemental Instructor for Anatomy & Physiology, volunteered at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, and served as President of her university’s chapter of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students. Welcome Kyla! |
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We are currently hiring for two positions! We are looking for a Project Coordinator to support our Indigenous Early Learning Collaborative (IELC). The IELC is facilitating locally driven, community-based inquiries led by Native peoples and communities. Under supervision from the IELC Project Director, the Project Coordinator will provide advanced administrative and strategic support to implement the goals of the IELC. Experience working with Native communities is preferred, and Native American candidates are encouraged to apply. This position is half-time, with a possibility for full-time.
We are also looking for a Research Assistant to join our Research and Evaluation Team. This entry-level, full-time position will contribute to all aspects of the applied research and evaluation process, including supporting the development of research protocols and data collection tools; conducting literature reviews; collecting, coding, and managing qualitative data; troubleshooting problems; communicating with project partners; and much more. This position is an excellent fit for individuals seeking community research and evaluation experiences or a stepping stone to graduate school.
At BTC, we are committed to creating a lasting organizational culture of equity, inclusiveness, and belonging. Please help us spread the word about both positions! |
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Fifteen months ago, if we could have looked into the future, how would we have prepared for what was headed our way? Although we had no crystal ball, BTC remained deeply connected this past year to families, communities, and care workers in every field, and connected them to each other to share their struggles, strengths, and solutions. We reached tens of thousands of providers and families through new webinar series that explored such topics as virtual service delivery, mindful self-compassion, strengths-based family engagement, parent and provider mental health, and parenting while Black. Together, we learned what we were up against, how to cope and care for ourselves, our families, and the children and families we serve, with new tools and skills we never knew we needed.
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Want to be part of a dynamic, online learning community with other professionals working to improve the lives of children and families?
Sign up for an Individual Membership to the Brazelton Touchpoints Center Learning Network! The Network provides professional development and networking on topics such as strengths-based family engagement, child development, challenging conversations about sensitive topics with families, supporting everyone’s mental health, engaging fathers, understanding children’s behavior, and many more.
Network members include professionals across the early childhood fields of home visiting, early intervention, perinatal and pediatric health care, mental health, early care and education, family support, child welfare, and library services, among others. Join today and get special member pricing on our professional development opportunities! |
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We’re always sharing knowledge, resources, and research on Facebook! In case you missed them, here are some of the most popular pieces that have really engaged our community. Join the conversation today! |
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Brazelton Touchpoints Center |
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