“Foundations to Thrive”: A new framework to identify optimal conditions to promote resilience in Travis County.
In 2017, the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) partnered with St. David’s Foundation to identify local assets supporting families and connecting communities in Travis County, TX. This project involved the creation of a guiding framework for research and an asset map of Travis County, the report for which is now available.
Foundations to Thrive Framework
The TXICFW team first created a guiding framework for understanding multi-sector impacts on children and families in Travis County. This framework, known as Foundations to Thrive, aims to promote healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. Areas considered included Basic Needs, Neighborhood Climate & Community Norms, Prenatal Care and Birth, Parenting Programs and Wellness, Pediatric Well-checks, and Quality Child Care and School Readiness. The team also explored the availability of universal, secondary, and targeted approaches.
The research team first created a guiding framework for understanding multi-sector impacts on children and families in Travis County. This comprehensive framework brought together areas of potential impact for families with young children. Areas considered included Basic Needs, Neighborhood Climate & Community Norms, Prenatal Care and Birth, Parenting Programs and Wellness, Pediatric Well-checks, and Quality Child Care and School Readiness. The team also explored the availability of universal, secondary, and targeted approaches.
Travis County Asset Map
TXICFW used this framework to create an asset map of Travis County services and resources already supporting children and families. Our team identified the presence or absence, and capacity, of cross-sector assets within Travis County that:
1) Promote optimal brain development and overall health and wellbeing of children ages 0-5 and their families.
2) Promote resilience through trauma-informed efforts for children and families who are at risk for, or have experienced, trauma.
The research team identified gaps, overlapping services, and community challenges, with an eye on expanding existing efforts. In doing so, the team considered opportunities for innovative linkages in resources and community-based strategies to promote well-being.
The following graphic provides an example of some of the “bright spots” happening in Travis County. While many programs and approaches benefit children and families in the community, the team chose a few to highlight.
Funders, program developers, policy makers, and community stakeholders can use the Spring 2018 Asset Map report to explore strategic next steps. The Asset Map itself is considered a “working document” and will serve as a starting point for continued conversations within the community. As such, the Asset Map will benefit from additions and revisions as community input and new programming continue.
Read the report:
Foundations to Thrive: Full Report, Spring 2018