Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Families Help Everyone Achieve their Fullest Potential
July 2020
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A Spring, and Summer, Like No Other
As we began this new decade, we couldn't have predicted the disruption that COVID-19 would bring to our lives. We SHOULD have been prepared for the pandemic to take the greatest toll on black and brown people. The same historical and structural racist systems that have led to disparities in maternal health, early childhood education, poverty and so much more are all interconnected with the disparities we are seeing with COVID-19 and the killing of black people by police. 2020 has brought us a new civil rights movement. And the Jordan Institute for Families is all in. We have done our best to step in wherever we can over the past few months on behalf of families and are redoubling our effort with the recruitment of an advisory board and plans to launch a new equity initiative later this year. We will not stand on the sidelines. We can't. We won't.
"Now may be the reason we were born. We all have skills that are needed. Now is the time. This is the place. We are the people. It is time for a radical transformation - to have policies based on life, liberation and love." - Rev. Dr. William Barber II - the
Poor People's Campaign 2020
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Moms Matter!
As early as March COVID-19 was disrupting maternity care and new motherhood in major ways. The Jordan Institute was among the first in the country to raise the warning about postpartum care gaps and emerging maternal needs.
NewMomHealth.com
has received significant attention as a place where new moms can find the information and connection they need. ACOG provided a boost of funding to help us share the word and the team had a chance to do a series of Instagram live takeovers of Baby Dove social media.
We also were part of a group that put together recommendations for
NC Pregnancy & Continuity of Care During COVID-19
and advocated for the release of pregnant and postpartum women with low offenses or on bail from NC jails and prisons via the
NC Pregnancy Bail Fund
.
As the COIVD-19 crisis has deepened, Dr. Sarah Verbiest along with Dr. Dorothy Cilenti were asked to lead a $4 million one-time grant via the CARES Act to
i
ncrease access to telehealth care for moms across America
. Within two weeks, a new team was created that is almost entirely led by women of color who will distribute funds to high risk communities. The challenges continue to grow and our team will remain focused on finding all opportunities to make sure moms - especially those of color - stay strong and safe.
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Podcast Series for Families
In early April, the JIF team was concerned about how families were doing in the face of stay at home orders and major life style changes due to COVID-19. We teamed up with the
FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
to develop a podcast series: Navigating the Unknowns.
This series offers expert information, tips, and resources for navigating family stress and strengthening family relationships. Topics included dealing with loss and grief, supporting young children, and helping young adults transition home. Please check it out
here
.
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Building Equity in Early Childhood
This past winter under the leadership of Dr. Paul Lanier and Katherine Bryant, the Institute conducted a series of community data design round tables to help reimagine what early childhood data systems could look like in NC. The resulting Preschool Development Grant B-5 Survey of Early Childhood Education Data Users report highlighted a number of areas of action ahead. Click
here
to read the report and learn more about the work.
One key opportunity that has emerged is the
chance to address suspension and expulsions in early childhood: A collective approach towards equity and justice
. The National Black Child Development Institute, the Educational Equity Institute, and others invited the JIF team to join them in sponsoring a two-day virtual summit August 10-11th on this topic. Click
here
for more info. SSW colleagues and topic experts Dr. Travis Albritton and Tauchiana Williams have joined the movement as well. Stayed tuned for much more to come this fall!
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Institute on Implementation Science - Virtual Summer Session
When COVID-19 upended the world, it impacted our popular Institute as well. Undeterred we went online. First with a
blog series
. Then, with over 600 registrants, a virtual session focused on Competencies for Implementation Support Practitioners as well as leading implementation during times of disruption.
Click
to watch. Our next training will be offered in December and the Institute will be back in June 2021!
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Summer Social Justice Series
In response to the devastating disparities in COVID-19 mortality for people of color and the murder of George Floyd, we partnered with Dr. Travis Albritton, SSW Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to move into learning and action. The first webinar focused on
Racial Disparities and Implications for Policy, Practice, Research and Teaching
. The second focused on
Re-Imagining Community Safety
. The speakers for both panels were thoughtful and shared many areas for action. A third webinar is being planned for August focusing on
Social Work Complicity and Disruption of White Supremacist Organizational Culture
. Check our events page for details. We will also be organizing a series of learning opportunities and events this fall with the School of Social Work community to center the importance of voting and voter rights. A big shout out to Dr. Allison De Marco for the work she does to make these extraordinary events happen!
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Advancing Equity
Missed our blog? Please take a few minutes to catch up on our posts. A blog about
Tema Okun's
work on white supremacy culture is in the works now.
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Website Refresh + Social Media
In January based on feedback from UNC communications students, we transformed the Jordan Institute's website - adding colors that pop and better organized content. We added a new section just for families. While we still have work to do to increase our followers, we also launched a Facebook page and Twitter account for the Jordan Institute. Follow us!
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Family to Family Support Series
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No newsletter in these times is complete without a zoom picture! When we realized we wouldn't be able to have an end of semester team meeting, we took the celebration to zoom to connect. Katherine Bryant figured out how to send home pizza delivery to ALL of the students. We congratulate all the graduates and appreciate everyone's capacity to pivot their work to a virtual space!
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Doctoral, Graduate and Undergraduate 2019-20 Academic Year Dream Team
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Building on the Jordan legacy, we leverage evidence, policy, collaboration, innovation, and the wisdom of communities to
work together to create the conditions where ALL families can thrive.
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