Leah Gilliam

Children & Families First

We Believe Every Child Is Filled With Tremendous Potential. At Children & Families First, our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all children and their families has made our name our promise. We know children thrive when they have regular interactions with responsive, caring adults. We also know the weight of poverty, systemic racism, depression or other mental health challenges creates toxic stress that can overload parents' abilities to provide the supportive relationships children need. Using brain science research as the foundation for our framework, Children & Families First engages more than 20,000 children, youth, and families each year in programs, services, and supports proven to prevent, intervene, and heal the immediate and lasting impacts of toxic stress and trauma. Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential and we believe investing in children and families is the single most powerful lever to create a healthier society and stronger economy for us all, now and in the future.