- How is a Touchpoints site developed?
- What are the criteria for becoming a Touchpoints site?
- How long does it take to become a Touchpoints site?
- What is expected of a Touchpoints Site?
- What are the key steps of integrating Touchpoints in practice?
- What are the benefits of integrating Touchpoints into practice?
- How much does it cost?
- What support is offered to teach and integrate the Touchpoints Approach?
- What is the evidence base for the Touchpoints intervention?
- How can I learn more about becoming a Touchpoints Site?
- How do I apply to become a Touchpoints Site?
Q: How is a Touchpoints site developed?
A Touchpoints site is most often developed by a local coalition of multidisciplinary providers. In some instances, a Touchpoints site may begin as a single institution or system of care. Examples include health care providers, home visiting programs serving multiple geographic areas, all early care providers in a neighborhood, child care resource and referral networks, and public health systems. While each site is unique, these self-identified change agents all:
- recognize a shared responsibility to support the families of the children they serve
- seek to improve services to achieve better outcomes for children and families
- have identified the Touchpoints Approach as a vehicle for achieving this goal.
Q: What are the criteria for becoming a Touchpoints site?
Each site must engage in a planning process and meet basic professional development prerequisites before becoming a site in the Touchpoints Network. Criteria imbedded in the Brazelton Touchpoints Center® application process include:
- Philosophical alignment with Touchpoints (i.e. support for a strength-based, family-centered, relational/developmental approach to serving children and families)
- A need or goal that Touchpoints will help satisfy or accomplish (e.g. increase knowledge of child/family development, enhance family/provider relationships)
- Support from organizational leadership (decision makers who have the authority to allocate resources).
Q: How long does it take to become a Touchpoints site?
The planning process may take up to six months. This process includes engaging leadership support, resource development, plan development, application, and team selection and preparation.Q: What is expected of a Touchpoints Site?
Each Touchpoints site engages with Brazelton Touchpoints Center® in a multi-year commitment to integrate the Touchpoints Approach within a defined "area of impact" (where and to whom the Touchpoints Team is authorized to deliver the Touchpoints Training Program™). Sites make a commitment that:
- Individual providers will learn to use the Touchpoints Approach in their work with children and families
- Providers will support the use of the Touchpoints Approach in practice
- Providers will organize and develop programs and services that are consistent with the Approach (e.g. improve coordination and collaboration) and
- Providers will develop a plan to engage other providers that serve the same children and families to integrate Touchpoints into their work.
Q: What are the key steps in integrating Touchpoints in practice?
- Individuals learn to use the Touchpoints Approach in work with children and families (Individual Level Training)
- A leadership team is selected to learn and teach others to use the Touchpoints Approach (Community Level Training)
- Site partners create opportunities for providers to use the Approach in practice and to receive ongoing structured feedback (Reflective Practice and Supervision).
Q: What are the benefits of integrating Touchpoints into practice?
The Touchpoints Approach is a strengths-based intervention that activates and supports the expertise and capacity of families to provide sensitive and nurturing caregiving. Using the Approach, providers identify opportunities to work together with families to bring about better health and readiness to learn outcomes for children. The Touchpoints Approach offers strategies for building relationships between families and children, providers and families, and providers with one another. Providers move beyond rescuing children to strengthening families.Using the Touchpoints Approach, providers experience greater understanding of child/family development and effectiveness in communicating with families and working across cultures. Integrating the Approach helps mitigate staff burnout and enhances job satisfaction.
The Touchpoints Approach aspires to rehumanize health care and transform child care into family care. Providers are urged to reorganize service delivery around family needs and strengths. Organizations use the Approach to help meet quality standards in health care and child care and to enhance coordination and collaboration among providers working with the same families.
Q: How much does it cost?
Becoming a Touchpoints site is an investment in developing the capacity of a community to teach and integrate the Touchpoints Approach. Investments of financial and in-kind resources (e.g. release time) range from $50,000 to $150,000 over a three to five year-period, depending on the size of the initiative and the scope of its work. Touchpoints sites have received financial support from a variety of sources: federal and state government, the United Way, community foundations, and private philanthropy.Q: What support is offered to teach and integrate the Touchpoints Approach?
- Capacity and resources to teach the Touchpoints Approach to providers in your community
- Consultation and technical assistance for one year, including a site visit by Brazelton Touchpoints Center® faculty
- Complimentary membership in the national Touchpoints Network for one year: opportunities to participate in learning communities, access to Brazelton Touchpoints Center® faculty and the Touchpoints Network, and regular updates
- Opportunities for advanced professional development
- Attendance fee waived for your Touchpoints Team at one National Forum.
Q: What is the evidence base for the Touchpoints intervention?
The Touchpoints Approach has grown out of over 60 years of infant research and practice by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a leading pediatrician and developer of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) used worldwide. The Touchpoints Approach is based on an extensive body of additional scientific research, practice and program evaluations. Read more about our evidence base. Find resources for Making the Case for Bringing Touchpoints to Your Community.
Q: How can I learn more about becoming a Touchpoints Site?
Learn about making the commitment to become a Touchpoints Site.
- Guiding Questions & Key Lessons
- Making the Case for Bringing Touchpoints to Your Community
- Applying to Become a Touchpoints Site
Brazelton Touchpoints Center® faculty and staff are available to help you make the decision to apply to become a Touchpoints Site. You may contact Sarah Pitlak at sarah.pitlak@childrens.harvard.edu or
857-218-4353 to discuss your interest in using the Touchpoints Approach to help you reach your goals for children and families.
You may also consider hosting a Brazelton Touchpoints National Seminar in your community. This two-day educational program is designed for parents and healthcare professionals interested in parenting and childhood development. Communities find the National Seminar Series very effective in mobilizing support. Other speaking opportunities are available.
Contact Suzanne Otcasek suzanne.otcasek@childrens.harvard.edu or at 857-218-4352.
Q: How do I apply to become a Touchpoints Site?
Brazelton Touchpoints Center® faculty and staff are available to help you make the commitment to become a Touchpoints Site. You may contact Sarah Pitlak at sarah.pitlak@childrens.harvard.edu or 857-218-4353 to discuss your interest in using the Touchpoints Approach to help you reach your goals for children and families.
Once you have made the commitment to develop a Touchpoints site, you may submit the Touchpoints Site Application. Within 30 days of receipt, a member of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center® faculty will contact you to discuss your application and goals for becoming a Touchpoints site.
Brazelton Touchpoints Center
1295 Boylston Street, Suite 320, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 857-218-4451 / Fax: 617- 730-0060
eMail: touchpoints@childrens.harvard.edu