The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities Change in Mind Institute aims to increase the common understanding of the core story of brain development and intensify this knowledge into the social and public sectors. Through continuous innovation and alignment of practice and policy with knowledge, research, and evidence on how the brain develops, organizations and communities can enhance the skills and capacities everyone needs to be healthy, happy, and contributing citizens. 

The Change in Mind Institute operates as a hub for disseminating knowledge, provides training and technical assistance on the integration of brain science research, and engages in cross-sector innovation on the transformation of organizations, sectors, and systems as they adapt to the new applications of the science.

Current News

Read Jennifer Jones, director of Change in Mind Institute, statement on the ICE Raids that happened on Aug. 7 in Mississippi. 

Introducing New Study

Change in Mind Learning Collaborative Model Outcomes and Impact Study
As part of its work to advance a common understanding of brain science research and how it can be applied to human services policy and practice, the Alliance’s Change in Mind Institute is partnering with NORC at the University of Chicago to launch a three-year Change in Mind Learning Collaborative Model Outcome and Impact Study. Four Alliance members organizations will participate to increase our understanding of the kinds of interventions that work to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Learn more

Building Resilience in the Face of Tragedy Initiative

Due to the unprecedented number of natural disasters and tragedies in 2017 and 2018, New York Life has identified the urgent need to support nonprofit organizations that are working with children, adults, families and communities that have been impacted by these events.

New York Life launched a grant program in partnership with the Alliance to provide financial support to organizations that have the capacity and expertise to provide long-term trauma and grief support in geographic areas impacted by major weather disasters in 2017 including Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma, and the California Wildfires and significant human-made tragedies that have occurred in the last year and a half including  Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Texas, and Parkland, Florida. This is a one-time grant opportunity.

Learn more about the grantees.

Cohort Collaboration

Change in Mind cohort sites have access to an exclusive collaboration space on myAlliance to support their work on the initiative. Join fellow Change in Mind sites by logging in.

Connect Online

Meet the Partners

The Alliance is proud to Partner with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Palix Foundation’s Alberta Family Wellness Initiative. Community Science leads the evaluation.

Meet the Partners

Resources Collection

This collection includes the latest resources on brain science, adverse childhood experiences, and more. Alliance and cohort members should log in to access the Alliance Library.

Access Resources

Cohort Sites

U.S.

  • Children and Families First in Wilmington, Delaware
  • Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
  • Wellspring Family Services in Seattle
  • LaSalle School in Albany, New York
  • KVC Health Systems in Olathe, Kansas
  • The Family Partnership in Minneapolis
  • Martha O’Bryan Center in Nashville, Tennessee
  • East End House in Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Family Service Association of San Antonio in San Antonio
  • Children’s Home Society of Washington in Seattle  

Alberta, Canada

  • CASA Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health in Edmonton
  • CUPS Health, Education, Housing in Calgary
  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Calgary and Area in Calgary
  • Boyle McCauley Health Centre in Edmonton
  • Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary