Build State Conferences

February 26-27, Denver, CO 
Joint Meeting of The Build Initiative/Project Thrive-NCCP

The Build Initiative in partnership with the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) conducted a topical conference for multiple state teams focused on the intersection of health/mental health development and school readiness.  The goal of the conference were to:

• Assist teams from 8 states (Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island) to build upon emerging best program practices and policies from the health system to support school readiness strategies and to support the health system in adopting exemplary health and mental health practices. 
   
• Identify key policy actions that states can take to promote healthy child development and school readiness and seek to strengthen the linkages of health/mental health to the early care and education and family support components. 

Consistent with both BUILD and NCCP approaches, a strong emphasis was placed on peer-to-peer learning and sharing and the implementation of an action-oriented agenda that supports systemic change for children and families.

Conference Summary and support materials

Click to see a summary of the conference and to download a variety of support materials from the conference.

Award Presentations

BUILD and NCCP presented two awards at the conference.  Click to see videos of the awards presentations to Zoe Nicholie and Jane Knitzer.