Born To Thrive In Elkhart County

Welcome to a community where every child is nurtured with love and support from the very beginning. The Building Strong Brains initiative believes that every child is born to thrive! Our coalition is focused on building a comprehensive, systems-based approach to helping children succeed.

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Help for Parents & Caretakers

Check out our newest initiative:

A tuition-free, 8-week summer camp for all Elkhart County families.

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Download our NEW Tips for Kindergarten Readiness booklet (English/Español PDF).

These simple tips can help support your child’s development and readiness.

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Our Organizational Sponsors

With effort and collaboration, we can build a system supporting children under age 6 and the families who raise them so that every child is prepared when they enter elementary school.

A group of organizational sponsors has come together to work collaboratively.

Planning Begins for Elkhart County’s Pop-Up Pregnancy & Family Village

Building Strong Brains is partnering with the University of Notre Dame's Eck Institute for Global Health to bring a Pop-Up Pregnancy & Family Village to Elkhart County: a one-stop gathering of services and supports for families navigating pregnancy, prenatal care,...

Countdown to Kindergarten: Free Summer Camp Enrollment Open

Starting kindergarten is a big step for any child and for any family. Countdown to Kindergarten is our tuition-free, eight-week summer camp designed to help children entering kindergarten in Fall 2026 feel confident, comfortable, and ready for that first day. Through...

New Resource: Tips for Kindergarten Readiness

Some of the most powerful kindergarten preparation doesn't happen in a classroom. It happens at the kitchen table, in the car, or on a walk around the block. Our Quality Childcare and Early Learning Environments Action Team spent the past year listening to Pre-K and...

March Convening Recap and Save the Date for June

More than 80 partners gathered at Goshen College Fellowship Hall on March 24 for our quarterly convening. A few of the updates worth carrying with you: Findhelp keeps growing. findhelp.buildingstrongbrains.net has now logged 7,719 searches and 3,735 visitors, with...

Building Strong Brains Annual Summit

The Building Strong Brains Coalition invites parents, partners, and community members to gather for our Annual Early Childhood Summit. Together, we’ll explore how positive experiences build resilience and shape the future for children and families across Elkhart...

Welcome Our New Staff Members

Patty Rose serves as the Assistant Director of Early Childhood Health and Community Supports for the Building Strong Brains Early Childhood Initiative. In this role, she works closely with Coalition leadership to lead and advance maternal and child health efforts,...