Temple Health has been awarded a $700,000 three\u2011year grant from the William Penn Foundation to develop the Temple Family Thriving Program, a trauma\u2011informed initiative that integrates caregiver and early childhood support directly into prenatal and postpartum care.<\/p>\n
The Family Thriving Program leverages the clinical operations at Temple Women & Families Hospital, with Temple University’s academic training programs. This partnership addresses the impact of intergenerational adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by incorporating parenting education, social needs screening, and community-based resources into routine healthcare visits families already attend. The program’s approach removes one of the most significant barriers facing under\u2011resourced families: the need for additional appointments amid already limited time, transportation challenges, and competing responsibilities.<\/p>\n
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This investment from the William Penn Foundation allows us to meet families where they are and provide equitable, whole\u2011family support that promotes healthy development from the very beginning. Prenatal and postpartum visits represent a critical window of opportunity \u2013 not just for medical care, but for strengthening families at a foundational moment.”<\/p>\n
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Sharon Kurfuerst, EdD, OTR\/L, FACHE, Executive Director of Temple Women & Families Hospital<\/p>\n
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Approximately 70 percent of patients are expected to meet program enrollment criteria based on ACE screenings and social determinants of health assessments administered during the second trimester of pregnancy.<\/p>\n
Pipeline of trauma\u2011informed practitioners<\/p>\n
The Family Thriving Program is strategically embedded into prenatal OB\/GYN visits and the 24-72\u2011hour postpartum stays at Temple Women & Families Hospital. These appointments often include partners, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers \u2013 allowing for opportunities to engage entire family units in learning and support.<\/p>\n
“Parents are generally not taught to consider how their own childhood experiences impact their attitudes and actions towards their children,” said Amy Lynch, PhD, OTR\/L, FAOTA, TBRI\u00ae Educator, SCFES, Associate Professor in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Department at the Barnett College of Public Health at Temple University. “By pairing past experiences insight with actionable strategies, we can reduce the risks of perpetuating intergenerational harm. This positive parenting approach improves a child’s physical, motor, emotional, and mental development, and creates stronger family systems.”<\/p>\n
The program leverages occupational therapy and social work students at Temple University’s Barnett College of Public Health and other universities by utilizing rotating cohorts of supervised students to help deliver services. This supports cost\u2011effective implementation while also strengthening Philadelphia’s pipeline of trauma\u2011informed practitioners well beyond the grant period.<\/p>\n
Tiered services tailored to family readiness<\/p>\n
Grounded in Trust\u2011Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), the program equips caregivers with practical, no cost, evidence\u2011based tools designed to manage stress and support healthy parent\u2011child relationships. Interventions focus on three pillars:<\/p>\n
\n\tAwareness: helping caregivers recognize how past trauma influences current parenting responses
\n\tPresent\u2011Moment Regulation: building stress\u2011management and body\u2011based regulation skills
\n\tRelationship\u2011Driven Connection: strengthening attunement, secure attachment, and responsive caregiving
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By addressing caregiver stress while reinforcing positive parenting practices, the program aims to reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect, support caregiver well\u2011being, and promote healthy early childhood development.<\/p>\n
All identified families receive initial clinical support, with opportunities for deeper engagement based on individual readiness and need. Families seeking additional support may participate in tiered services which include structured peer groups, as well as intensive one\u2011on\u2011one support from community health workers for those facing compounding crises such as housing instability or food insecurity.<\/p>\n
“With the William Penn Foundation’s partnership, Temple is building a model that transforms how Philadelphia’s most vulnerable families access support by integrating services into moments families already trust and recognizing that caregiver well\u2011being and early childhood outcomes are deeply connected,” Kurfuerst said.<\/p>\n
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