EarlyWell Coalition
Collaborate with partners to improve infant and early childhood mental health.
Strengthening infant and early childhood mental health through policies that support children and their caregivers
The EarlyWell Initiative unites families and organizations across North Carolina committed to advancing infant and early childhood mental health, with the goal of ensuring every family is supported in ways that meet their unique needs. Informed by recommendations from the Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Action Framework, the initiative is focused on building a strong, evidence-based, and accessible early childhood mental health system statewide.
Since its launch in 2019, the EarlyWell Initiative has engaged hundreds of stakeholders from across the state and every level of the early childhood ecosystem, and now convenes a growing Coalition representing the broader early childhood and family well-being landscape and, most importantly, families and caregivers.
The EarlyWell Coalition, co-led by the NC Early Childhood Foundation and NC Child, is a nonpartisan group that advances public policy to ensure North Carolina’s children — from prenatal through age eight — and their caregivers can thrive in strong relationships, experience positive mental health, and access the care they need without barriers.
News and Resources
EarlyWell Lean In & Listen Up Report
This 6-page Executive Summary to the EarlyWell Coalition’s Lean In & Listen Up report, provides a window into what families need and want from North Carolina’s social-emotional health ecosystem.
What can you do?
Stay up to date on the Coalition’s work by subscribing to the EarlyWell newsletter, or contact us to join the EarlyWell Coalition!
EarlyWell Timeline
Scaling Impact in a Changing Landscape
The EarlyWell Initiative enters a new phase of growth, with continuing leadership from the NC Early Childhood Foundation and NC Child, to strengthen infrastructure and deepen statewide impact. Building on its strong foundation, the work focuses on adapting to a rapidly changing landscape—enhancing coordination, elevating family leadership, and advancing policy and systems strategies to ensure sustainable, equitable access to infant and early childhood mental health supports.
Advocacy Roadmap Released
EarlyWell releases its 10-year advocacy roadmap, prioritizing policy and practice recommendations and advancing its first wave of policy priorities.
Annual Coalition Gatherings and Establishment of the Coordinating Team
Coalition members gather together to collaborate, igniting annual gatherings. EarlyWell establishes a 16-member Coordinating Team, including family leaders, to guide Coalition priorities and develop a 10-year advocacy roadmap.
Leaning In & Listening to the Community
EarlyWell releases the Lean In & Listen Up Report capturing what North Carolina families need from the state’s infant and early childhood mental health system. The Coalition convenes 12 sector-based workgroups to identify needed system changes, centering race equity and family leadership throughout the process.
Family Voice Report is Released
Community-based organizations gather input from more than 200 North Carolina families across 28 counties to inform the Family Voice Report, highlighting families’ experiences within the social-emotional health ecosystem.
The EarlyWell Initiative Launches
Rooted in the Pathways Action Framework, the NC Initiative on Young Children’s Social Emotional Health—now known as the EarlyWell Initiative—forms with leadership from the NC Early Childhood Foundation in close partnership with NC Child. The initiative brings together families and cross-sector partners to advance infant and early childhood mental health across North Carolina.
EarlyWell Partners
- NC Child
- Reach Out and Read
- Grow Early Learning
- Johnston County Government
- North Carolina Partnership for Children
- NC CCR&R Statewide Family Child Care Project
- Duke Children’s
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
- UNC School of Social Work
- Family Connects International
- Family Support Network of North Carolina
- North Carolina Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association
- Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation
- Western Carolina University
- Positive Childhood Alliance NC