Babies Need All of Us

I believe all the way to my toes that this work changes the world.

AIMHs change the world for babies. They strengthen the people, relationships, and systems that surround babies and families every day. And I think all of us, national organizations, funders, partners, and people across this field can do better to support them.

That's what has me thinking about abundance.

There is so much expertise, so many relationships, and so many resources and opportunities across our field. AIMHs should be able to draw from all of it. Because babies deserve for the grownups to come together for them.

We already understand this when it comes to families.

We would never expect a family to get everything they need from one place. A family might have a child in child care and also receive early intervention services. They might participate in home visiting, see a pediatrician, receive support through a community organization, and have extended family and friends they rely on.

We don't see those relationships as competing with one another. We know that each one may bring something different to the family.

In fact, we spend a lot of time trying to build systems that make it easier for families to have those connections.

So I've been wondering why we don't always think about organizations the same way.

AIMHs need a lot of different things to do their work well. They need relationships with other AIMHs. They need people they can call when they are working through something. They need access to expertise, professional development, funding opportunities, national partners, good ideas, and sometimes simply the chance to hear how someone else handled a similar challenge.

I don't think all of that should come from one place.

I think an AIMH having several organizations, networks, and partners supporting its work is a really good thing.

One organization may have deep expertise in one area. Someone else may have exactly the resource an AIMH needs at a particular moment. A funder may open a door. Another AIMH may have already figured out something another state is struggling with. A new partnership may create an opportunity none of us had considered before.

The more connected AIMHs are, the more they have to draw from.

That's the kind of national network I hope we're building through AIMHI-USA.

It doesn't mean AIMHI-USA needs to create every resource or lead every effort. Sometimes the most useful thing we can do may be to connect an AIMH with someone else. Sometimes it may be sharing another organization's opportunity. Sometimes it may be bringing several people together around an idea. And sometimes AIMHs may tell us there is a gap that we can help fill.

To me, that's part of what Growing National Relationships means.

It's also why I keep coming back to abundance.

There is enough room in this work for all of us. More than that, I think this work needs all of us.

No one national organization is going to change the world for babies. No one network, funder, initiative, or approach will either. But we each have something to bring, and we can make it easier for AIMHs to draw from all of it.

I want strong national organizations. I want strong networks and partnerships. I want more resources, more ideas, and more people investing in this work. Because the stronger and more connected we are, the more support we can put around AIMHs.

And that's really the point.

Strong AIMHs are better able to support the professionals and systems surrounding babies and families. And when we strengthen those relationships and systems, we create better possibilities for babies.

That's why I believe abundance matters.

What would change in our field if we started from the assumption that more relationships, more ideas, more opportunities, and more people contributing are good things?

I want to spend some time exploring that question. And I know abundance is only one of many conversations worth having.

So we're starting something new.

From Where We Sit: Perspectives from the Field will be a place to share ideas, questions, experiences, and perspectives from across the IECMH field. You'll hear from AIMH leaders, partners, colleagues, and others who have something to add to the conversation. We'll share each piece here and gather them on the AIMHI-USA website so we can keep coming back to them.

This first piece starts with something I believe deeply: babies need all of us.

I know I have my own ideas about what abundance could look like in our field, but I'm even more interested in hearing yours.

And as From Where We Sit grows, I hope you'll share more than your thoughts on abundance. I hope you'll tell us what you're thinking about, what you're questioning, what you want our field to talk about, and maybe even write something for us to share.

There are a lot of perspectives in this field.

We're making room for yours. Because from where I sit, babies need all of us.

~Angela Webster, MSW, IECMH-E®

Board Chair, AIMHI-USA