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Two-generation (2Gen) approaches are paving pathways for children and their families to reach their full potential together. This monthly newsletter highlights 2Gen practice and policy breakthroughs so you can cultivate innovation, collaborate within and outside your organization, and improve outcomes for whole families.
Exploring the Power of Community Connections with the 2Gen Investment Case
Ascend is championing community-centered partnerships that create real change for families. You can read more about this approach in our recently-released report The 2Gen Investment Case: Making the Most of Capital in All Its Forms.
For those interested in bringing 2Gen strategies to your community, we’re also excited to share the 2Gen Collaborative Toolkit, designed as a companion to The 2Gen Investment Case. The Toolkit offers tangible guidance for implementing place-based 2Gen approaches grounded in family voice, equity, and partnership.
Upcoming Webinars & Convenings
Ascend fosters dialogue with communities from across the country to build connections, learn from one another, and document promising practices for family well-being.
Harnessing 2Gen Investment: The Business Case for Community-Centered Partnerships
Thursday, May 22nd
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET (1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PT)
Join our next webinar in our 2Gen Investment series, where Ascend Managing Director Marjorie Sims will be joined by experts Al Fuller, President of the Integrated Packaging Company; Nicole Witherbee, President & CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation; and Nitzan Pelman, CEO & Founder of Climb Together. Together, they’ll explore how businesses can be effective leaders in community-centered public-private partnerships.
Brazelton Touchpoints Center: Families and Providers Webinar Series
Monday, May 19th
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET (12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PT)
Join our Ascend Network Partner, Brazelton Touchpoints Center (BTC), for the next session in their new four-part conversation series focused on LGBTQ2IA+ families. Each session in this series will explore inclusive parenting strategies, navigating schools, protecting families, and uplifting practices that help all families thrive.
This is part of a broader family-centered learning effort by BTC, which also includes Turtle Talk: Collectively Raising Indige-babies, a powerful four-part series exploring Indigenous birthing practices, Native language immersion, family visiting traditions, and the role of Indigenous music in early childhood education.
Upcoming Title IX Training Sessions: Pregnant Scholar Monthly Call
Tuesday, May 20th
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET (9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PT)
Join The Pregnant Scholar for a monthly conversation focused on supporting pregnant and parenting students in higher education. These sessions cover the latest Title IX updates and offer space for colleagues to ask questions, share challenges, and receive expert guidance. These sessions also offer Ascend Network Partners and postsecondary leaders an opportunity to learn, connect, and strengthen support for student parents across campuses.
Whole Family Approach Practitioners’ Roundtable
Wednesday, May 28th
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET (11:00 – 12:00 p.m. PT)
Join our Ascend Network Partner, the National Community Action Partnership (NCAP), for a roundtable designed for Community Action Agencies implementing the Whole Family Approach. Participants will hear updates on new resources, share challenges and best practices, and explore innovative solutions to support families. Whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned practitioner, your insights will help shape future programming and resource development for NCAP.
Funding & Job Opportunities
Job Openings for Displaced Federal Workers and Recent Graduates
Howard Community College (HCC) is launching a new initiative to encourage displaced federal workers and soon-to-be college graduates to apply for full or part-time non-teaching roles at the institution. Areas of expertise sought include accounting, data entry, machinery, project management, and program management.
Dr. Daria J. Willis, a 2021 Ascend Fellow, currently serves as President of HCC and is leading this effort to open new doors for talented professionals.
National Emergency Scholarship Fund for Student Parents
Scholarship America, in partnership with Ascend Funder ECMC Foundation and others, is launching the National Emergency Scholarship Fund for Student Parents to provide fast, flexible financial support to student parents at risk of dropping out due to unexpected expenses. Nearly 20% of undergraduates and almost 30% of graduate students in the U.S. are parents, and a single mother who completes her degree is projected to earn $256,000 more over her lifetime.
The campaign also features Ascend Parent Advisor Maria Isabel Ramos Martinez, who shares how emergency funding allowed her to continue her education.
Career Opportunities at Generation Hope to Support Student Parents
Ascend Network Partner Generation Hope, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, is seeking passionate individuals to join their team. Dedicated to supporting student parents and their families through holistic, two-generation programming, Generation Hope has supported nearly 500 student parents through tuition assistance, mentorship, and education and policy partnerships. Join a team committed to driving systemic change and fostering a culture of support.
2Gen Stories & Accomplishments
Explore these new stories to inspire and advance how you partner with families.
Ascend Fellow Receives McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund AwardAscend Fellow Dr. Jessica Saniguq Ullrich was selected as a 2025 McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund awardee for her work with IREACH at Washington State University. Through this work, she is partnering with the federally recognized Nome Eskimo Community (NEC) to develop culturally rooted strategies that promote multigenerational healing and well-being for Indigenous children and families in Alaska. The Catalyst Fund supports Aspen Fellows leading ventures with early momentum toward meaningful change, awarding up to $150,000. |
In-Depth with Experts: Two-Generational Health During the Perinatal PeriodThe McSilver Institute and the New York City Perinatal and Early Childhood Mental Health Network Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) recently released a podcast episode spotlighting two-generational health during the perinatal period, with Ascend Fellows Dr. Cynthia Osborne and Dr. Catherine Monk. The episode explores topics from health policy to pediatric care and offers insights from leading experts. Additional resources can be found here. |
We Know Georgia: Helping Georgia Families Thrive with 2GenIn 2022, the The Georgia Children’s Cabinet, in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and Ascend Network Partner Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, launched the 2Gen Leadership Academy, the nation’s first cross-agency leadership academy focused on increasing statewide 2Gen approaches across policy and services for health, safety, literacy, and other issues important for family well-being. The Vinson Institute recently released an article to reflect on the Academy’s work to date, including insights from the Academy reflecting more than 50 participants from 16 agencies and organizations who have graduated from two 2Gen Leadership Academy cohorts so far. |
10 Community Colleges Join Mental Health Collaborative Designed To Support Student Parents in Higher EducationAscend Network Partner The Jed Foundation (JED) launched the JED Campus Collaborative for Student Parents, bringing together 10 community colleges to improve mental health support for student parents. The collaborative fosters peer learning, addresses institutional barriers, and strengthens system-level support. This initiative builds on a framework co-developed by JED and Ascend, emphasizing peer learning, barrier reduction, and system-level change. |
Recent Research & Reports
Our 2Gen Resource Library has hundreds of free and evidence-informed materials to advance your 2Gen work. Read these new resources authored by Ascend staff, Ascend Fellows, and partners about building whole family well-being.
Beyond Screening: Ascend Fellows Rethink How We Identify and Address Social Needs in Health Care
Unmet social needs are closely tied to poor health outcomes, but there is little consensus on how to best identify and support families at risk. A new article co-authored by Ascend Fellows Dr. Lucy Marcil, Dr. Deana Around Him, and Emily Miller explores how health systems can improve their screening practices using both household-level data and broader tools like the Child Opportunity Index. The piece highlights four key strategies that emphasize cultural responsiveness, mental health, resource alignment, and accuracy.
GOALS: A 2Gen Outcomes Study of Families Experiencing Homelessness
Ascend Network Partner Center for Policy Research (CPR) released findings from a multi-year evaluation (September 2019 – September 2024) of the Generational Opportunities to Achieve Long-Term Success (GOALS) program, an initiative addressing multigenerational poverty through 2Gen residential-based services based in Arapahoe County, CO, and led by Ascend Fellow Cheryl Ternes. Results show families in the program experienced stronger housing stability, improved well-being, and increased economic security. In fact, 89 percent of families in the program received referrals to community services like housing, food, and basic assistance, compared to just 36% of families receiving standard services.
Moving Toward Solutions: Addressing the Transportation Challenges of Maine Families
Ascend Funder John T. Gorman Foundation is elevating the importance of accessible, affordable transportation with a new report focusing on Maine’s urban and rural opportunities and challenges for families with low incomes. It highlights how transportation challenges often rank above other basic needs such as utilities and food for parents with low incomes, and shares three practical insights for transportation providers, while highlighting practical innovations such as travel reimbursements through Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, which can cover up to $140 per week for student parents.
New Poll Shows Strong Support for Head Start
A recent national survey from UpONE Insights, conducted for the First Five Years Fund, found strong support across political parties for funding Head Start. The poll, conducted in April 2025, found that 72% of voters, including 62% of Republicans, 64% of Independents, and 83% of Democrats, believe funding early learning and child care for families with low incomes is a smart use of public funds. The data is segmented across various demographic categories, including geography, age, and gender.
New Moms College Success Program Pilot: Final Evaluation Report
Ascend Network Partner and 2Gen Accelerator Community Partner New Moms released findings from their College Success Program pilot, aimed at increasing degree attainment for young mothers in Chicago. The program included coaching, transportation support, and a $500 monthly stipend for participants pursuing a degree or certificate. The report contains six recommendations for the program and similar initiatives, finding that personalized coaching, financial support, and peer support are key drivers of New Moms College Success Program participant success, highlighting the need for tailored, flexible interventions.
Contribute to the 2Gen Movement
Embedding family voice and community input are core to making a 2Gen approach relevant, accessible, and effective. Help us learn from your work and elevate your community's expertise on a national level.
The Aspen Institute Ascend Network is a community of more than 600 organizations from across the US and beyond that uses 2Gen approaches in their work so that children and families can reach their full potential. The Ascend Network connects leaders from across sectors with diverse areas of expertise so that we build relationships, spark connections, and co-create innovative solutions that lead to better outcomes for families. If your organization isn't already in the Network, take a 15-minute survey to join.
Thank you for all the work you do to improve outcomes for children and their families.
Best,
Sarah Haight
Director, 2Gen Practice
Ascend at the Aspen Institute
Stephanie Brueck-Cassoli
Senior Program Manager,
Ascend at the Aspen Institute
Jordan Colvin
Program Associate, 2Gen Practice
Ascend at the Aspen Institute
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