I recently had an email communication with a former staff member who aptly stated that the work we are doing is "brain surgery." I was struck by those words. How often do you hear someone say, "Well, it's not that hard. After all, it's not brain surgery!" If income is any measure, we certainly believe that raising and teaching children is not brain surgery and therefore neither hard nor complex.   However, with what we now know from recent brain research, the first five years are when we literally shape and mold the brain with opportunity, experiences and bonding. It is surgery without the scalpel. Every time we help parents learn a new, loving way to interact with their baby, we are helping them build positive connections in the brain. The parents are building a strong foundation for the healthy future of their baby. Conversely, when children are exposed to adverse experiences like domestic violence, their brain cells are responding and forming patterns the determine the patterns in their future. Yes, gentle, loving and non-invasive brain surgery is exactly what we do when we Teach Loving Connections.  It makes a difference for the child, for the parent, and for our society. Thanks for helping us make that difference.

 

Executive Director