Exciting 2023 Institute Updates

Who Are We?

For these 2023 Institute Updates let’s start with the basics. First, who are we? The Institute of Family and Community Impact is OhioGuidestone’s Center of Excellence for research, clinical training, innovation, and advocacy. The Institute, or IFCI, was born out of OhioGuidestone’s strategic plans for growing our innovation and research in 2017.

At the core of IFCI’s work is a devout commitment to empathy, collaboration, and accessibility. By collaborating with many diverse stakeholders, experts, and communities, we look to create positive and lasting impact on the lives of those we serve and collaborate with. At the Institute we know community members are the experts of their own communities- this is why we strongly emphasize and believe in an US & WE-style approach to the work we do.

Recently, the Institute has built valuable community partnerships with early care educators utilizing Joyful Together. Joyful Together was recently featured in the podcast “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah.”  Assistant Vice President Brittany Pope and Clinical Institute Fellow and Joyful Together trainer Kristina Ryan shared about implementing Joyful Together and the science behind it. OhioGuidestone’s Institute of Family and Community Impact is empathetically forging the path forward toward an equitable, resiliency-centered society. Grants like the $48 million Pre-School Development Grant – Birth to Five will undoubtedly empower us to continue our mission of providing evidence-based research and innovative solutions to empower early childcare professionals, families, and communities across Ohio and beyond.

OhioGuidestone Partners with Starting Point

We at IFCI know joy can be found everywhere from home to school to the pediatrician’s office with our easy-to-do Joyful Together activities. Our Assistant Vice President, Brittany R. Pope interviewed with News 5 to explore our recent Joyful Together Early Care & Education partnership with Starting Point, the expert in quality education, childcare, and out-of-school resources in Northeast Ohio. The partnership between OhioGuidestone and Starting Point directly confronts the gaps many childcare centers, educators and families are navigating.

The $48 million Pre-School Development Grant and Governor Dewine’s plans to address early care supported this partnership. Brittany emphasized the integral role of combining research with the input of early childcare teachers, parents, and community members. The preexisting relationships between our children and their early care educators can only be strengthened. Our Joyful Together program nevertheless will continue bringing love, joy, and nurturing, and in-turn building resiliency!

It’s through collaboration that we can truly create supportive and enriching environments for our children to thrive. By valuing and celebrating the insights and experiences of all those involved in a child’s life, including their wonderful teachers and support staff, we are fostering a sense of unity and understanding that is essential for children’s holistic development.

Together, we can continue to build a community where love, joy, and care are at the core of our children’s growth and success.

IFCI’s Alignment With Governor Dewine’s Plans

Ohio Governor Mike Dewine illuminated the grant in a press release stating that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) will receive funding over the next three years to increase and furthermore ensure quality early care education. Funding would undoubtedly assist in reaching an evidence-based solution powered by community voices.  

IFCI is committed to putting into action Governor Dewine’s call to increase access and family engagement in early care and education, preparing early childhood care and education professionals with culturally appropriate trauma training, credentialing, and parent support. We at IFCI explicitly believe in an us & we centered approach. Family members, educators and caretakers are key partners in grant activities, policy development and initiatives. Their voices should lead the path toward a more equitable, resiliency-centered society!

What IFCI Could do With More Funding

At the Institute our purpose is to spread OhioGuidestone’s impact on whole person health by leveraging innovation, research, and advocacy.  By focusing on whole person health we empower families and communities, and equip professionals. With more funding our preexisting Joyful Together Early Care & Education (ECE) work could reach more educators, in turn enhancing a higher percentage of relationships through everyday moments. The program equips early care educators and administrators with tools to implement the model into their preexisting routines. By nurturing and supporting strong relationships and fostering positive interactions in these early years, we are collaboratively laying a solid foundation for the emotional, social, and cultural development of the next generations to come.

With more funding IFCI could continue enhancing lives and building strong, resilient communities through innovation, research, and evaluation. Likewise, we could continue implementing groundbreaking trainings and innovations that are culturally relevant and sensitive. We at IFCI envision an Ohio where communities no longer just survive, they also thrive.

Why Support the Institute?

At the Institute of Family and Community Impact, we are dedicated to forging a future where every individual and family has the opportunity to flourish and succeed. With increased support and funding, we can further amplify our impact, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond our current reach.

By investing in innovation, research, and evaluation, we can unlock new pathways for growth and development, empowering individuals, families, and communities to not only withstand challenges but to truly thrive.

Our commitment extends beyond research and innovation to delivering cutting-edge accessible trainings and initiatives that are not only effective but also tailored to the unique cultural responsiveness needs of the communities we serve. By embracing cultural responsiveness, and diversity, we ensure that our efforts are inclusive and impactful, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment among all individuals who attend our trainings and professional development opportunities.

As we look towards the future, our vision for Ohio is one where communities are not solely surviving, but experiencing vitality in every sense of the word. Through collaboration, dedication, and a shared sense of meaning and purpose, we believe that together, we can build a brighter tomorrow for all.

2023 Institute Updates Action Item: Partner With Us Today

Inspired to make some family and community impact? Partner with us today. Taking action can vary from person to person, but at the Institute, no step towards change is insignificant. Complete our “Partner with Us” form to connect with a team member who shares a similar motivation and purpose to yours. Long-lasting community solutions through innovation, research, and advocacy can start with you, today.