Our Story
Built on Community. Centered on Families. Created for What’s Next.
THRIVE may have formed in 2024, but our work is rooted in nearly 20 years of community organizing to expand opportunity and resources for children and families in Durham County. Our story is one of people coming together, listening to families, learning what works, and building stronger ways to support children from the very beginning.
Where We Started
A community’s commitment to children and families
THRIVE’s roots can be traced to the Durham County Early Childhood Action Plan, a community-driven effort to improve outcomes for young children and families. The process brought together community leaders, healthcare providers, and families, gathering input from more than 1,000 Durham caregivers. Their message was clear: families need to have a voice in the programs and systems designed to support them.
The resulting [Grown in Durham] report outlined a vision for a community where children have their basic needs met, are healthy, safe, and nurtured, and are ready to learn and succeed.
From Planning to Action
Putting family voice into practice
The Early Childhood Action Plan created momentum for new ways of working across healthcare and community systems. That work led to Durham Partners in Early Relational Health and the Pediatrics Supporting Parents initiative.
Together, families, healthcare providers, and community organizations co-designed strategies to strengthen early relational health and improve experiences for young children and their caregivers. Families helped identify barriers that might otherwise have been missed and shaped changes within pediatric care.
What We Learned
Families know what support should look like.
The work reinforced a simple but powerful idea: the people closest to a problem are often closest to the solution. When families have a meaningful voice in designing programs and services, organizations can create solutions that are more practical, responsive, and sustainable.
The work also showed that families need more than individual services. They need connected systems of support.
THRIVE Today
Carrying the work forward
THRIVE was created to build on this foundation.
We connect families to coordinated resources, programs, and community support while creating opportunities for caregivers to lead and shape the systems around them. Our work bridges maternal and child health, strengthens caregiver leadership, and promotes healthy development and family well-being.
We continue to bring families, healthcare providers, community organizations, and other partners together to create stronger support systems for children and families.
Looking Ahead
Building What’s Next, Together.
THRIVE is building on the lessons, relationships, and community leadership that brought us here. As our work grows, we are committed to expanding connections, strengthening partnerships, and creating opportunities for more families to shape the systems that affect their lives.