The Upper Valley is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family, with world-class hospitals, institutions of higher education, innovative businesses and community-based organizations, natural beauty, and close-knit towns and villages where all children can have an opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. We build on these community assets by:
Supporting existing programs that promote positive outcomes for young children and their families
Creating new and innovative solutions to address persistent community challenges
Fostering opportunities for convening, learning, and collaboration for collective impact
All Children Deserve A Strong Start in Life
Building strong systems for young children requires a comprehensive approach to strengthening access to high-quality early learning, health care and mental health services, and child and family support services. We understand that for young children to thrive, all parents and caregivers must have the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to support their children’s early learning and development.
Achieving long-term, sustainable, and positive outcomes for children and families in the Upper Valley will require new ways of thinking and new ways of collaborating across often disconnected sectors of education, health care, and human services.
Our three strategic pillars
EARLY LEARNING
High quality early childhood education builds the foundation for life-long success. Through grant making and community engagement, we aim to strengthen the capacity of educators and caregivers in the Upper Valley to nurture and support the healthy development of young children and their families.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
All children deserve access to affordable, quality health care and mental health supports—including developmental screenings, pre and post-natal care, preventative care, and maternal mental health supports—that help kids thrive and reach their potential
FAMILY STRENGTHENING
A healthy childhood starts at home, with strong, nurturing, and resilient families. Home visiting, parent education, and child and family supports help ensure that all adults and caregivers have the necessary knowledge and skills to support their children’s development.
Long Term Goals
Young children have access to the necessary developmental and learning opportunities that promote long-term health, social and emotional wellness, and academic success
Parents have access to needed resources and social systems so they can better support themselves and their children
Parents have the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to make the best choices for their children’s early learning and development
Working parents are able to enter and remain in the workforce—supporting family economic well-being and regional economic growth—knowing their children are well cared for
Families live in healthy and supportive communities that foster social and economic opportunity
Photography Credits
Banner photograph provided by Vital Communities. Photo credit Molly Drummond
Photograph courtesy of Children’s Literacy Foundation.
Photograph courtesy of AVA Gallery and Art Center. Photo credit ©Michael Seamans