Two-Generation Approaches
The CA LAUNCH Program is using a two-generation approach to service delivery. This approach focuses on addressing needs of both very young children and their families together rather than in silos. The intent is to design services so that they are integrated and impact outcomes for the whole family. The challenge for programs has been to determine how best to combine child and adult-focused services into a fully integrated, intergenerational approach grounded in developmental science and aligned at program, community, and policy levels (Shonkoff & Fisher, 2013). In California, we are working to ensure that the chronic conditions of vulnerable parents that are known to have a significant impact on child well-being are addressed. Such an approach demands coordination across systems and the full participation of agencies beyond home visiting and mental health. Thus, the SIT-HV Workgroup and Community Advisory Boards for home visiting programs in California include multiple other key organizations including those focused on social services, physical health, economic well-being, employment, and housing.
For the link to the article by Shonkoff and Fisher on 2-gen approaches:
An excellent overview of the challenges and need to work toward development of two-generational policies across systems written by Jack Shonkoff and Phillip Fisher can be found at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4745587/
An additional resource developed by CLASP, focused on policy approaches is available at:
http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/publication-1/Two-Gen-Brief-FINAL.pdf