Convening & Coalition-Building

Strategic partnerships with a strategic focus.

The Urban Child Institute works to ensure all children are ready for kindergarten and can read on grade level by the end of third grade. But it takes more than one organization or one program to create real change. That’s why UCI hosts and participates in conversations and coalitions that are geared toward improving systems via multi-sector coordination and cooperation to achieve a broader impact. 

Early Literacy Convenings

It is well-known that reading on grade-level by 3rd grade is a predictor of future academic success. With fewer than 1/4 of Memphis Shelby County Schools 3rd graders reading on grade-level, there is an urgent need to comprehensively and collaboratively engage multiple sectors in effective early literacy strategies.

UCI convenes or participates in the following groups focused on early literacy:

Early Literacy Consortium (ELC)

With Literacy Mid-South, First 8 Memphis, Stand for Children, and dozens of multi-sector stakeholders interested in advancing early literacy

Memphis LENA Collaborative

(convened by UCI)

With Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach, Porter-Leath, University of Memphis, LENA Foundation

Pinwheel Playroom

(convened by UCI)

With Porter-Leath Books from Birth, Memphis Public Library, Literacy Mid-South

Strategic Partners for Literacy

With Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS), the Hyde Family Foundation, First 8 Memphis, Literacy Mid-South, Seeding Success, Stand for Children, and Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE)

Social Drivers of Health Convenings

Social drivers contribute to preventable health and mental health conditions at the family and individual level as well as challenges in the early childhood and K-12 school environment.

UCI convenes or participates in the following groups focused on the social drivers of health and mental health:

Access to Mental Health Services in the K-12 System

(convened by UCI)

With UCI Support Organizations and other SDOH stakeholders discuss topics such as affordable housing, child care, and local systems building initiatives

Access to WIC

With TN Justice Center, TN Dept of Health, Shelby County Health Dept, and others

Child Mental Health Issue Brief

(convened by UCI)

With Allied Behavioral Health Services, Children's Hospital Alliance of TN (CHAT), First 8 Memphis, Memphis Shelby County Schools, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Seeding Success, Tennessee American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP), Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE), United Way of the Midsouth, University of Memphis School of Social Work, UTHSC, Youth Villages

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

(convened by UCI)

With AIMHiTN, Tenncare, and Allied Behavioral Health services

Quarterly Policy Discussions

(convened by UCI)

With UCI Support Organizations and other SDOH stakeholders discuss topics such as affordable housing, child care, and local systems building initiatives

TANF Stakeholder meetings

With the TN Justice Center and other partners

Universal Meals in Public Schools

With the TN Justice Center, American Heart Association, Second Harvest, and others

About Social Drivers of Health

UCI uses Social Drivers of Health as a framework for where and how we engage directly with Memphis and Shelby County families and communities. Social Drivers of Health are the social, cultural and environmental conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. These conditions affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

Learn more about Social Drivers of Health

70%

At least 70% of health outcomes can be attributed to Social Drivers of Health like access to quality health care and education, employment and income, neighborhood safety, and more.

Social Drivers of Health

Source: McGovern, Laura; Miller, George; and Huges-Cromwick, Paul (4)