NEWS
Highlights from the 2024 BSB Data Walk
Highlights shared included:
- BSB brings together many sectors from across Elkhart County, with cross-sector partnerships happening throughout the community. There is still room to invite more voices from industry and rural areas.
- Member organizations value BSB’s role in bringing people together around a shared vision for early childhood and in strengthening trust and collaboration, especially through action teams.
- Many partners want more tools and resources to shine a light on the work of other organizations and create new opportunities to work together.
Uniting for Change: Building Strong Brains Coalition Gathers for Quarterly Meeting
The Building Strong Brains Coalition recently held its quarterly meeting at Goshen College on Tuesday, March 25, bringing together key partners and action team members dedicated to improving outcomes for young children and families in Elkhart County. The morning was filled with updates, discussions, and new initiatives aimed at driving positive change across the community.
Welcoming Remarks & Purpose
Kim Boynton, Director of the Building Strong Brains Coalition, welcomed participants and outlined the meeting’s agenda. The focus remained on celebrating collective wins, launching the Building Strong Brains FindHelp platform, and exploring new data from Visible Network Labs to enhance collaboration efforts. Boynton emphasized the coalition’s continued commitment to three core areas:
• Quality Early Learning Environments
• Community Supports
• Healthy Moms and Babies
She also acknowledged the need to address foundational issues like food and housing security to enhance the coalition’s impact. Reflecting on a previous meeting in October 2023, Boynton noted that lasting change requires working at three levels: explicit, semi•explicit, and implicit.
Celebrating Successes & Addressing Challenges
The coalition’s progress was bolstered by a $7.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment (Lilly Gift VIII), awarded to the Community Foundation of Elkhart County to support the Building Strong Brains initiative over five years. As Boynton said, “This grant award is one of many affirmations that our collective work is building a strong foundation that will lead to improved outcomes for young children and families.”
Key initiatives highlighted during the meeting included:
• Healthcare Access: Regular meetings among healthcare leaders are helping to identify and address barriers to prenatal care access.
• Community Resource Navigator Cohort: A new effort aimed at better-connecting families with necessary resources.
• Fetal Infant Mortality Review: The Community Action Team component of this work will be part of the Maternal and Child Health Action Team’s ongoing work to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.
• Family Voice Project: Ensuring solutions are designed with direct input from parents and caregivers.
Introducing Findhelp
Brian Replogle, Assistant Director of Building Strong Brains, introduced the new Findhelp platform, designed to connect families to local resources more effectively. This tool aims to streamline access to services and enhance the coalition’s ability to respond to community needs.
Partner Contributions & New Tools
Several partners shared updates on their projects:
• Shin Yee Tan from Beacon Community Impact and The SOURCE introduced the Family Journey Consortium, which offers comprehensive services for birthing individuals and families.
• Natalie Evans from Crossroads United Way discussed Lantern, a tool offering resources and support for parents and caregivers.
• Patty Rose from Purdue University highlighted efforts to create safe, accessible indoor play spaces for children.
• Holly Decker from Geminis shared the success of the Family Child Care Network, which has engaged more home•based providers and improved care quality.
Building Toward Transformative Change
As Boynton noted, real transformation involves not just structural changes but also relational dynamics and shifting underlying beliefs. The coalition is working at all three levels:
• Structural Changes (Explicit): Policy adjustments, new programs, and improved resource allocation.
• Relational Changes (Semi-Explicit): Strengthening networks and improving collaboration across sectors.
• Transformative Changes (Implicit): Shifting mindsets and cultural narratives about what it means for children to thrive.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, the coalition’s progress remains strong. The commitment to learning, collaboration, and relentless problem•solving continues to drive the work forward.“We have far to go on this journey, but we have accomplished a lot and we aren’t slowing down,” said Boynton.
We’re Listening! Share Your Parenting Experience With Family Voice
Are you a parent or caregiver who:- Belongs to a minority group?
- Speaks a language other than English?
- Is new to the community?
- Has a unique or less common parenting experience?
Growing Partnerships: Triple P, Elkhart Public Library, and a new CAPS program
Starting March 18, the Elkhart Public Library’s main branch downtown will host the first-ever Triple P for Baby group sessions. To learn more, read this blog post on our website.
CAPS has a new program called Nurturing Care Groups. We are excited about this and eager to see it grow. You can learn more at this blog post on our website.
Supporting and Empowering Parents Navigating Resources
One project funded by the Lilly Endowment grant will strengthen support for expectant and new parents through an Enhanced Community Resource Navigator Cohort program. This initiative expands resource navigation services in communities where improved outcomes are most needed, focusing on the 46516 and 46528 zip codes. A shared learning agenda will guide data collection on the challenges and opportunities families face. Organizations already utilizing resource navigators will be invited to explore participation in this effort.
Bright by Text is now Lantern!
As Bright by Text celebrates 30 years of service as an accessible village for parents, it’s being renamed Lantern, which “symbolizes the company’s role in guiding families and lighting the way to education, wellness, and connection. Like a lantern lighting the path, they aim to provide clear, reliable, and timely information to families to help every child thrive”. Parents can still access the same information through Lantern. To sign up, text the word “CHILD” to 274448 to start receiving Lantern messages today.
Launching Findhelp.org to Support Parents
findhelp.org is a web portal that simplifies searching for local community programs that offer free and reduced-cost services, helping support individuals with living a healthier life.
We’ve been working hard to develop the information on this amazing platform. We will officially launch it at our quarterly meeting, but you can take a look at Building Strong Brains findhelp. We welcome your input to make this a key resource for our community.
Our Success is Interconnected
This graphic highlights the three active pillars of Elkhart County’s coalition. A fourth factor of economic self-sufficiency is represented with a dotted line because this is outside the scope of Building Strong Brains, yet it significantly impacts the outcomes for families with young children.
As a coalition dedicated to improving early childhood outcomes in Elkhart County, we recognize that every component is interconnected, forming a unified early childhood system. We remain committed to identifying barriers, gaps, and opportunities to drive meaningful change and strengthen this system.
Transforming Early Childhood in Elkhart County
Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a $7.5 million grant to fuel the progress of Building Strong Brains. The Community Foundation is the financial agent for the grant, which resulted from hard work by a number of community partners and amazing philanthropy in the early stages of the Lilly GIFT VIII process. (Read this press release for more information.)
This funding will strengthen support for children under age 6, through collective work in the areas of maternal and child health, early learning environments, and community resources for children and families with an overall goal of improving kindergarten readiness. We will continue the important work of ensuring every child is Born To Thrive In Elkhart County.
Stronger Families, Stronger Futures: Join CAPS’ Nurturing Care Groups
At Building Strong Brains, we believe that when families have the right support, children are better prepared to succeed. That’s why we’re excited to share a new opportunity for parents and caregivers in Elkhart County—CAPS’ Nurturing Care Groups.
What Are Nurturing Care Groups?
Nurturing Care Groups are volunteer-led support groups for expecting parents and caregivers of children from birth to pre-kindergarten. These gatherings provide a space where families can connect, share experiences, and learn helpful parenting strategies in a welcoming environment.
Why Join a Nurturing Care Group?
Raising children is easier when families have a strong network of support. NCGs help parents and caregivers:
- Build Relationships – Meet others in the community who share similar experiences.
- Learn Practical Skills – Gain knowledge about child development, health, nutrition, and parent-child bonding.
- Find Encouragement – Exchange ideas, reduce stress, and build confidence in parenting.
- Access Local Resources – Learn about available services to support your family’s needs.
Led by peer mentors with parenting experience, these groups create a setting where families can learn from one another in a relaxed, supportive way.
How to Get Involved
Join as a Parent or Caregiver — If you are expecting or have a child from birth to pre-kindergarten, you are welcome to participate. Groups meet in local venues, making it easy to attend. Fill out this form to apply.
Become a Peer Mentor — If you have experience raising children and want to help others, consider becoming a peer mentor. Mentors help guide discussions and create a welcoming space for families. Apply at this link.
Contact CAPS at 574-336-6128 or email mgarcia@capselkhart.org to find a group near you.
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