About HOPEful Conversations about Child Development
Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) drive healthy child development and lessen the lifelong effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The HOPE framework centers around the Four Building Blocks of HOPE, or key types of positive childhood experiences that all children need to thrive. Using the HOPE framework, organizations, communities, and individuals can make changes to practices, policies, and programming to ensure that children and families have access to PCEs.
In each episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd interview leaders in child health and development in order to learn more about how to support families in creating PCEs for their children.
You can learn more about the HOPE framework and PCEs on our website: positiveexperience.org (https://positiveexperience.org/).
Health in All Policies: Advocating for Child and Families: Featuring Dr. Tina Cheng and Dr. Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd welcome back Dr. Tina Cheng and Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba to discuss the power of shaping HOPE-Informed policy. Dr. Cheng and Dr. Ettinger De Cuba share real-world success stories of translating research into legislative action. Dr. Cheng breaks down the National Academies' recommendation for a "health in all policies" approach, reminding us that effective advocacy requires the "wisdom, will, and the wallet." Dr. Ettinger De Cuba highlights her coalition's success in Massachusetts, demonstrating how expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit by framing it as a health initiative gives families the financial and mental space to thrive.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
13 May 2026
From Clinic to Community: Translating Lived Experiences into Health Policy: Featuring Dr. Tina Cheng and Dr. Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd are joined by Dr. Tina Cheng and Dr. Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba for a conversation on the intersection of community-engaged research and child health policy. The guests discuss the importance of "going upstream" to proactively address social vulnerabilities and prevent health crises before they reach the clinic.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
6 May 2026
Empowering Indigenous Youth with Cultural Humility and Mentorship: Featuring Dr. Jason Deen
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd welcome back Dr. Jason Deen for part two of their conversation on supporting Indigenous youth. The discussion explores how non-Indigenous professionals can practice "cultural curiosity" and humility to create safe, affirming spaces for Native children and families. Dr. Deen shares insights into the unique experiences of urban Indigenous populations, the impact of historical relocation programs, and the emergence of pan-Indigenous cultural connections.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
29 Apr 2026
Empowering Indigenous Youth with Culture and Belonging: Featuring Dr. Jason Deen
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd are joined by Dr. Jason Deen, a pediatrician and founder of the University of Washington Center for Indigenous Health. The conversation explores how Indigenous families provide positive childhood experiences (PCEs) by deeply connecting youth to their culture and traditions. Dr. Deen discusses the healing power of cultural socialization, such as participating in powwows and traditional activities, as a "decolonizing concept" that builds self-worth, community health, and resilience against historical trauma. The hosts also highlight Dr. Deen's inspiring work in creating pathway programs that introduce Native youth to medical careers, normalizing the experience of being an Indigenous healthcare professional.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
22 Apr 2026
HOPE en Español in Early Childhood Education and Beyond: Featuring Dr. Javiera Brierley Vera and Flavia Maccio
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd welcome back Dr. Javiera Brierley Vera and Flavia Maccio to dive deeper into the practical applications of HOPE en Español. Shifting the focus to the early childhood workforce, Flavia shares a powerful success story from Michigan, where implementing the HOPE framework helped dramatically reduce staff turnover, combat burnout, and create a strength-based environment for professionals serving Spanish-speaking immigrant families. The conversation also explores the growing collective impact of HOPE across Latin America, with Dr. Brierley Vera revealing an "audacious goal" to see every Spanish-speaking government promoting positive childhood experiences.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
15 Apr 2026
Bringing HOPE to Spanish-Speaking Communities: Featuring Dr. Javiera Brierley Vera and Flavia Maccio
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd are joined by Dr. Javiera Brierley Vera and early childhood specialist Flavia Maccio to take the HOPE framework on a cross-cultural journey. Our guests share their insights on adapting positive childhood experiences (PCEs) for Spanish-speaking communities across the globe. The conversation highlights that while the Four Building Blocks of HOPE are universal, culturally responsive care requires listening deeply, honoring family structures, and moving at the "speed of trust." The episode serves as a powerful reminder that shifting from a trauma-only focus to a strength-based approach empowers families to define thriving on their own terms.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
8 Apr 2026
Scaling Positive Childhood Experiences from Science to Policy: Featuring Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd welcome back Dr. Nadine Burke Harris for a powerful conversation on transforming systems to support children and families. Building on the science of toxic stress, Dr. Burke Harris discusses how to scale positive childhood experiences (PCEs) from the clinic to statewide policy. She shares insights from her time as California's Surgeon General, highlighting the economic cost of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the groundbreaking policy shift that allowed Medicaid to fund buffering care based on risk rather than waiting for a clinical diagnosis. Finally, the hosts explore the realities of vicarious trauma and the importance of building personal support networks to sustain this critical work.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
1 Apr 2026
Healthy Caregiver, Healthy Child: Featuring Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd are joined by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California's first-ever Surgeon General. The conversation explores the profound impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress, alongside the biological healing power of positive childhood experiences (PCEs). Through a compelling patient story, Dr. Burke Harris illustrates how buffering care—like child-parent psychotherapy—can reverse the effects of trauma and promote healthy growth. The hosts also discuss the importance of recognizing discrimination as a risk factor for toxic stress and emphasize that positive childhood experiences are essential for all children.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
1 Apr 2026
Practical Ways to Interact With Children: Featuring Dr. Bruce Perry
Continuing their conversation, Dr. Robert Sege, Dr. Baraka Floyd, and guest Dr. Bruce Perry discuss using the HOPE framework in practical, everyday ways to interact with children. They highlight how brief, in-person moments of connection can calm stress responses and support healthy development. Practical takeaways include the four P's (present, parallel, patient, persistent), the power of proximity and social contagion, simple activities, and the "bubble of effectiveness" strategy to combat burnout and maximize impact, even in short encounters.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
18 Mar 2026
Healing Through Connection: Featuring Dr. Bruce Perry
In this episode, Dr. Robert Sege and Dr. Baraka Floyd speak with renowned psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry about the HOPE framework and how positive relationships, environments, engagement, and emotional growth help children recover from trauma. Dr. Perry explains the concept of relational poverty, the protective effects of supportive adults and community, and the importance of in-person connections and simple environmental changes that create opportunities for healing and resilience.
For more on the HOPE framework, visit positiveexperience.org.
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