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Thriving Families

Little baby is sleeping in dad's arms while her sister is kissing her
Our Focus

The Thriving Families Working Group helps give families the knowledge and resources they need to nurture their children. Attention is placed on the family’s critical role in their child’s development.

We seek to ensure that all families possess:

  • Parental resilience
  • Social connections
  • Knowledge of parent and child development
  • Concrete support in times of need
  • Socially and emotionally competent children
  • Nurturing relationships and strong attachment to their children
Current Priorities
  • Promote Resources757.org so families and their advocates can find and use Hampton Roads resources.
  • Align parent education programs across the region so parents can easily find them.
  • Launch The Basics Hampton Roads, a community mobilization campaign promoting family interactions which support optimal early childhood development.
  • Develop a Parent Partnership Council by engaging families throughout SHR to help find solutions to the challenges of raising children who are healthy, thriving, and ready to learn.
It is my hope that the Minus 9 to 5 initiative will implore service providers, systems staff and citizens to embrace an approach that shares resources and time to create solutions that empower the people each project is designed to impact. It is the only way to BE the change we want to see.
Brenda Garrett posing for a professional headshot
Brenda Garrett KidsPriorityOne.org
Working Group Members
Rhashida Bess, Life Long Learning/NorfolkMeisha Calloway, YWCA-South Hampton RoadsTabatha Carroll, Parent VolunteerErika Crosby, Catholic Charities of Eastern VirginiaAditi Dutt, Bon Secours HospitalLex Gray, WAVY TV 10Capris Elmore, Eastern Virginia Medical School/Loving StepsNavine Fortune, Norfolk State University Child Development LabVeronica Hall, Parent VolunteerApril Hatfield, T.E.A.M. LiveMatt Herman, The Brock Institute, EVMSMary Hunt, Virginia Beach City Public SchoolsLisa Kerry, Chesapeake Public SchoolsTracie Kunkle, Norfolk Public SchoolsShawnda LoMonaco, Suffolk Early Childhood CommissionShawnika Moore, Parent VolunteerJanae Powell, Healthy Families NorfolkMary Potter, Family and Youth Foundations Counseling ServicesMary Riley, Chesapeake Human ServicesMichele Tryon, CHKD–HRPEN Parent Education NetworkMilcah Wade, Virginia Family and Fatherhood InitiativeSusan Whalen, Chesapeake Health DepartmentElexia Washington, Portsmouth Redevelopment And Housing AuthorityDana Watson, Urban Strategies, People First
Contact Beth Parker for more information at ParkerEK@EVMS.EDU