In April, Santa Maria was selected as one of 10 sites to participate in the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities’ Texas Change in Mind Learning Collaborative. With generous funding from the Episcopal Health Foundation and the Powell Foundation, the collaboration will begin this spring and run through June 2023.
The selection announcement included the overarching goal that “the group will infuse, accelerate and align brain science research throughout the human-serving sector in an effort to create lasting systems change and influence policy that will ultimately improve the lives of children and families in Texas”.
The Texas sites selected include: the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, the Austin Public Education Foundation, Bastrop County Cares, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, the Children’s Museum Houston, Family Service Center of Galveston County, Fort Bend County, New Hope Housing, Santa Maria Hostel and the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies. Each was included through demonstration of their ability to translate brain science concepts into programs, practice, and policy change.
Santa Maria was selected for its work in the Caring for Two program, which provides evidence-based support, education and tools to help families improve their ability to care for, nourish and interact with their young children, supporting positive brain development. Over the last several years, SMH has expanded services for the entire family unit, strengthened children’s services offerings and increased capacity to serve at-risk families in community-based settings and deepened our specialization in serving pregnant women and those with young children who are affected by substance use and trauma.
“We would like to develop initiatives for sharing our learning with the larger community, including parents, as well as educating our partners in targeted systems such as child welfare, criminal justice, healthcare and housing”.
~Nadine Scamp, CEO Santa Maria Hostel
