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Thriving Families

Diverse family smiling together

Our Focus

The Thriving Families Working Group helps give families the knowledge and resources they need to nurture their children. Attention is placed on the family’s critical role in their child’s development.

We seek to ensure that all families possess:

  • Parental resilience
  • Social connections
  • Knowledge of parent and child development: Early Childhood Mental Well-Being Resource
  • Concrete support in times of need
  • Socially and emotionally competent children
  • Nurturing relationships and strong attachment to their children

Current Priorities

  • Promote Resources757.org so families and their advocates can find and use Hampton Roads resources.
  • Align parent education programs across the region so parents can easily find them.
  • Launch The Basics Hampton Roads, a community mobilization campaign promoting family interactions which support optimal early childhood development.
  • Develop and maintain three Ready Region Family Councils, representing our three Southeastern sub-regions (Eastern Shore, South Hampton Roads, and Western Tidewater) to help find solutions to the challenges of raising children who are healthy, thriving, and ready to learn.
  • Implement, promote and maintain Parent Cafe programming in the South Hampton Roads, in partnership with United Way of South Hampton Roads and CHIP of SHR, providing a safe and reliable space for parent bonding and support.
It's wonderful to hear about initiatives like Minus 9 to 5 that are dedicated to supporting families and promoting early childhood development. Family engagement and community support play crucial roles in ensuring the well-being and proper development of young children. Initiatives like these not only provide resources but also create a sense of community and support for families in the Hampton Roads area.
Lisa Kerry headshot
Lisa Kerry Chesapeake Public Schools 
Working Group Members

Mary Bradshaw, Early Childhood Western Tidewater
Shannon Bradshaw, Parent Council representative
Ann Beamer-Williams, Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Erika Crosby, Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
Shannon DeCarlo, Northampton Dept of Social Services
Aditi Dutt, The Up Center
Zach Elder, Chesapeake Public Libraries
Katie Farrell, Accomack Public Schools
Mozella Francis, Northampton Dept of Social Services
Tanger Francis, Eastern Shore Head Start
Shikee Franklin, Hampton Roads CAP
Lisa Gehring, Teaching & Training Assistance Center, ODU
Cheyenne Gobel, Accomack Health Department
Renee Hailes, Portsmouth Public Schools
Dr. Pam Hatfield, Norfolk Public Schools
Cindy Hunting, Nurse Family Partnership
Reynold Jordan, Isle of Wight DSS
Lisa Kerry, Chesapeake Public Schools
Dever King, Franklin Public Schools
Kellen Knight, Portsmouth Public Schools
Shawnda LoMonaco, Suffolk Early Childhood Commission
Cassandra Major, Child Care Representative
Ana Medina, Chesapeake Public Schools
Elizabeth Moran-Dewald, Southampton Public Schools
Tonya Murphy, Hampton Roads CAP
Roberta Newman, Go & Grow Eastern Shore
Chanell Paynter, Hampton Roads CAP
Janae Powell, Healthy Families Norfolk
Mary Riley, Chesapeake Human Services
Sarah Rexrode, Franklin Dept. of Social Services
Monique Turner-Lopez, The Barry Robinson Center
Clint Walters, Franklin Public Schools
Elexia Washington, Portsmouth Redevelopment And Housing Authority
Lorraine Whitehead, Early Childhood Western Tidewater
Michael Wingfield, Western Tidewater Health District

Contact Beth Parker for more information at ParkerEK@ODU.EDU