Federal Research Investments in Whole Child Health and Wellbeing

Federal Research Investments in Whole Child Health & Wellbeing Recorded June 24, 2026 Despite decades of scientific progress, many children continue to experience significant physical, mental, behavioral, social, and educational challenges that affect their health, development, and long-term wellbeing. This full-day national webinar explores how federal research investments—particularly through the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—have advanced our understanding of whole child health and how continued investment can strengthen the evidence base needed to inform effective policies, programs, and practices that help children thrive. Hosted by the Decade of the Child (DOC) Committee, the webinar features leadership from five NIH institutes alongside nationally recognized experts in child health, prevention science, public health, pediatrics, psychology, and implementation science. Speakers discuss current research on child development, resilience, mental health, family and community influences, implementation of evidence-based interventions, and strategies for translating scientific discoveries into lasting improvements for children and families. Topics Include: • Whole child health and wellbeing • Why federal research investments matter for children, families, and communities • Child and adolescent mental health • Healthy child development, resilience, and wellbeing • Role of families, schools, communities, and environments in shaping child outcomes • Prevention science and early intervention • Implementation and scaling of evidence-based programs, practices, and policies • Translating research into effective policies, programs, and services The webinar was organized by the Decade of the Child (DOC) Committee and sponsored by the Nova Institute for Health, the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives, The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State University, and the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina. Learn more about the Decade of the Child initiative and ongoing efforts to advance whole child health and wellbeing: https://www.npscoalition.org/projects...