By Caitlin Feldman, Policy Director, Groundwork Ohio Follow Caitlin on LinkedIn
Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE, hosted its 18th annual Cross Sites meeting in Grapevine, Texas this August. This event has become a cornerstone for professionals involved in the Safe Babies approach, providing a unique opportunity to gather, share insights, and learn from peers across the nation.
The theme for this year’s Cross Sites convening, "Rooted In," encouraged participants to reflect on what grounds us in this work and how we can collaboratively drive change in our communities. The opening plenary was delivered by Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen, an acclaimed children's book author and co-developer of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). Her presentation, "Rooting Our Work in Stories, Core Concepts, and Hope to Support Relational Repair," set the tone for the remainder of the conference. Dr. Ippen artfully illustrated how trauma and adversity can shape a child's behavior and relationships. Through her children’s books, she demonstrated how adults can create a safe and nurturing environment that supports emotional regulation in young children who have experienced traumatic events that have led to their involvement with the child welfare system.
Throughout the conference, the Ohio Safe Babies team had numerous opportunities to learn from esteemed speakers during workshop sessions and to connect with professionals nationwide who share a common goal: transforming the child welfare experience for very young children and their families. In the spirit of shared learning, Groundwork's Caitlin Feldman was invited to showcase a new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) tool developed by Ohio's statewide Safe Babies team.
Currently, Ohio Safe Babies serves Lucas, Scioto, and Cuyahoga counties, with plans to expand into more communities across Ohio within the next 1-2 years. As a grantee of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Ohio Safe Babies is committed to reshaping the child welfare experience into one focused on prevention and family well-being. Our work is grounded in early childhood developmental science, promoting a more holistic and child-centered approach to child welfare practice. Ohio continues to lead on the national stage with its prevention-oriented strategies for the Safe Babies program.
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