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Resource Collection: Whole Family Systems

The resources in the Whole Child, Whole Family Systems collection provide examples of the policies, programs, and practices needed to implement a Whole Family Systems approach. This approach involves intentionally serving children and the adults in their lives at the same time, each of whom has assets, challenges, and needs that span across many systems.

Two initiatives that highlight how BUILD has advanced its Whole Child, Whole Family Systems perspective are:

  1. A Nine-Part Webinar Series – These webinars highlighted state and community initiatives that respond to the complex realities of family life. Topics included economic stability, homelessness and housing access, maternal and infant health, extreme heat, family supports, and nutrition and food security.
  2. The Minnesota Whole Family Systems Initiative – In this effort, BUILD provided technical assistance to three state-level agencies and seven community sites, helping them work collaboratively to redesign systems across government and community-based organizations. The goal was to build structures that not only recognize but also actively support the needs of the whole family.

BUILD’s contribution to these efforts supports three core objectives:

  • Promote Family and Child Well-Being:  Strengthen stability, health, and well-being for children and families, with a particular focus on communities of color that continue to experience systemic disparities.
  • Elevate Community and State Models:  Showcase examples of systems working across sectors to better serve families, emphasizing solutions that address overrepresentation and inequities impacting African American and American Indian children, families, communities, and tribes.
  • Center Community Expertise:  Recognize the knowledge and leadership of families and communities and highlight the critical role they play in creating solutions that remove systemic barriers.

No Place to Grow: Rethinking Homelessness Through a Whole-Child, Whole-Family Lens 

Archived Webinar June 11, 2025

Imagine trying to raise your joyful, curious two-year-old in a walk-in closet. There’s no room for toys, no space to play, and every sound echoes too loudly. You’re constantly on edge—not because you’re hiding your child, but because you’re worried that the typical noise of a developing toddler might be too much for the homeowner. The fear of losing even this small, temporary space looms during everyday moments, from enjoying your child’s laughter to dealing with their tantrums. This is what homelessness can look like for families across the country—living in cramped, unstable conditions that threaten not just housing security, but a child’s developmental foundation.

When It’s Too Hot to Play, Sleep, or Learn: Supporting Children and Caregivers in a Warming World

Archived Webinar May 12, 2025

When we think about young children and temperature, we often think about cold conditions and the protections needed to stay warm and safe. But how often do we consider the opposite: extreme heat? As climate change drives temperatures higher, extreme heat is becoming a more frequent and dangerous part of everyday life, especially for young children and caregivers living in under-resourced communities.