Founded in 2003, Innovate Health was born of Dr. Christina Bethell’s vision to cultivate a caring capacity for all children, youth, and families. Since its inception, Innovate Health has operated as the community-based, not-for-profit arm of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI), founded in 1996. Innovate Health has expanded the work of the CAHMI with a greater focus on integrative, whole-person health and systems change partnerships. We do this
by: 1) conducting field-building research on the science of child and family flourishing, 2) developing and scaling innovative tools and technologies to customize and improve care for child and family health, and 3) engaging in collaborative partnerships to translate the science of flourishing into policy and systems change. Our team also inspires leaders and champions in child and family health with transformational learning opportunities that advance self-leadership, self-
and collaborative care, and mind-body modalities to integrate spirituality and health.
OUR VALUES
OUR APPROACH
Innovate Health collaborates to define transformation goals for the health and well-being of children, youth, and families to discern and generate actionable research and tools that inspire and inform transformational partnerships at the national, state, and local level to achieve child, youth, and family health and well-being.
We take a highly collaborative approach to achieving our mission. Innovate Health cultivates relationships and partners with many of the nation's leading child and family experts and family organizations, national and state public health and health care systems, researchers, and communities. We promote partnerships that put children, youth, and families at the center of health practices, policies, and systems change. It is through partnerships that advancements in our collective well-being can truly be made.
"I would love to live like the river flows, unafraid of its own unfolding." - John O'Donahue
President
christina.bethell@innovatehealthpractices.org
Dr. Bethell is a Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she serves as the founding director of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative and the National Maternal and Child Health Data Resource Initiative. Since 1996, Dr. Bethell has shaped the conversation and developed methods and frameworks to enable the first-ever and ongoing availability of national, state, local, health system and clinical level family-centered data to promote the early and lifelong health of children, families and communities. She works to promote data driven and relationship and healing centered approaches to establish policies and practices that advance positive health outcomes for children, families and communities. This includes research to develop the Cycle of Engagement model and tools, which engage families to improve well child care services and shared care planning for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Dr Bethell is an avid student of human potential for flourishing amid adversity and is dedicated to the implementation of the collaboratively developed Prioritizing Possibilities a collaboratively developed national agenda to address childhood trauma and promote a new science of thriving in research, advocacy, teaching and practice. She writes poetry, dances and believes that attuned connection with our selves, life and others is the source of our creativity and joy.
Senior Consultant
sguinosso@gmail.com
Dr. Guinosso leads research and transformative learning to prevent childhood adversity and promote resiliency and flourishing with youth, families, and communities in educational and healthcare settings. Her research has influenced national, state, and local policy to advance more trauma-informed and healing-centered systems for children, youth, and families.
Past and Founding CEO of the Children's Hospital Association
mark.wietecha@childrenshospitals.org
Family Advocate and Family Support Specialist, UNC Family Support Program
leach@email.unc.edu
Grants and Contracts Manager, The Salvation Army (Yuba Sutter Area)
sharitucker5@gmail.com
Innovate Health has enjoyed support for its work from:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Children’s Hospital Association (CHA)
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The California Endowment (TCF)
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)