Partners in Parenting

03/11/2026

Such an important article and a quick read, so be sure to check it out! One important take-away that got our attention: "Foundational relationships: When children have stability in their relationships with attentive caregivers, they grow in an environment rich with beneficial interactions that promote secure attachment and healthy development. When attentive caregiving is absent, or if its presence is unreliable or unpredictable, healthy brain development can be disrupted. If children face significant instability in other areas of their lives, stable relationships with responsive adults in their home, childcare, school, or other settings can help provide important elements of the safety and security that children need. However, caregivers cannot do it alone—policy and programs that help create stable environments for young children and caregivers alike are essential for healthy development."

Promoting stability across a young child’s developmental environment offers a vital opportunity to support early development and lifelong health. Strengthening stability in one area—such as housing, caregiver relationships, or financial security—can have a multiplier effect across other parts of a child’s environment.

In the new working paper from the Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment (ECSCEE), learn about the importance of stability in early childhood as well as concrete ways to strengthen it: https://bit.ly/3PbD432

03/09/2026

Happy National Social Work month! Thank you to our amazing group of social workers at PIP - Jessica, Diana, Eric, Jeanne, Laura & Helen - and to all social workers for the difference you make in the world!!

03/06/2026

Congratulations to 6th grader, A, who won our February Raffle basket!

02/12/2026

Thank you, Holly! This was a wonderful presentation!

Thank you to Holly Timberline, OTR/L, IMH-E Infant Mental Health Specialist (IMHS), who joined us Tuesday to give her wonderful presentation entitled, "Taming the Tornado: Helping Kids Feel Safe, Seen & Soothed". We all benefitted greatly from her expertise and her accessible delivery of this information!

01/18/2026

Get ready to dive deep into the world of parenting with practical tips and strategies to help kids feel safe, seen, and heard!

11/04/2025

Recently, the concept of mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world—has gained momentum among scientists and practitioners as a key ingredient for well-being. While mattering is important to us all, our sense of whether or not we matter—to our loved ones, our communities, and the world at large—begins in the earliest days of infancy. And, while it’s never too late to build a sense of mattering, by starting early, we can have an outsized positive effect on children’s health and well-being across their lifespan.

To learn more about the importance of mattering in the earliest years and find concrete tips we can all take to help children develop a sense of mattering, see our new paper co-authored with Jennifer B. Wallace: "Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life"

📚 Read the paper here: https://bit.ly/43bXRaX

11/01/2025

Thank you to Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick for presenting "If You Could See Through My Eyes" at Thursday and Friday's Attachment Conference! We had an informative and restorative training and so appreciate them sharing their expertise and stories with us. Thank you to our conference co-sponsors Shineforth, Regional Post Adoption Consortium Services (RPACS) funded by VDSS, Advocates in Parenting, Anthem Healthkeepers Plus, and Worthdays! We hope this becomes an annual training tradition with these amazing community partners! Thank you to all of the parents, caseworkers and other professionals whose attendance and participation made the program possible.

10/20/2025

The upcoming attachment conference is now FREE for families and professionals! Please share with clients and colleagues.

10/07/2025

Thank you to Tiana Branch, Cumberland County CSA Coordinator, for inviting us to attend today's CSA Retreat. Meghan Wiley (PIP social work intern) and I enjoyed meeting Cumberland DSS and FAPT team members, as well as connecting with colleagues from other agencies supporting youth and families in our community.

09/26/2025

Upcoming Attachment Conference - FREE for foster/ adoptive/ and kinship caregivers and reduced rate for foster care caseworkers. Sign up for both dates using QR codes below and please share with friends, clients and colleagues! This will be a great event!

09/03/2025

SAVE THE DATE for this important attachment conference that will be held right here in RVA! This will be free for foster and adoptive families! We are fortunate to be cohosting with so many amazing partners! More information to follow soon with information about how to register.

07/28/2025

We enjoyed an afternoon of training with our colleagues at Chesterfield-Colonial Heights DSS! Dr. Sharon Brenner and Dr. Jennine Moritz presented a training related to 'building connection and resilience as caregivers' to a group of over 60 caseworkers and staff. The participants were very interactive and engaged throughout the afternoon! Thank you to Danika Briggs, Amy Smith and Eileen Fields for helping set up the training!