Purpose
More people achieve lifelong success.
In the United States, people experience success when they achieve key milestones and progress from one stage of life to another, from a healthy birth, to a quality education, a well-paying job, and healthy and secure aging.
People are most likely to achieve milestones of success with a supportive network of families, friends, and their community, and with helpful institutions and systems that support their progress from one stage of life to the next.
We help partners create the conditions for more people and families to thrive. Projects focus on reducing disparities based on factors such as race, class, gender, and geography so that more people achieve key milestones at every stage of their lives.
Prenatal Development, Infancy & Early Childhood
Examples of milestones include:
- Babies are born healthy to expecting mothers.
- Infants achieve healthy developmental milestones.
- Children enter school prepared to learn.
Childhood
Examples of milestones include:
- Children read on grade level by end of third grade.
- Children participate in regular exercise and eat nutritious meals.
- Children are safe and secure in their home, school, and community.
Youth
Examples of milestones include:
- Youth develop strong social bonds and networks of support with their peers.
- Youth graduate on time from high school.
- Youth pursue a post-secondary education and/or job training program.
Young Adulthood
Examples of milestones include:
- Young adults earn a college degree or advanced career training certification.
- Young adults enter the workforce and gain professional experience.
- Young adults are physically and mentally well.
Adulthood
Examples of milestones include:
- Adults advance in their careers and increase their earnings.
- Adults contribute to their community (i.e., taxes, voting, etc).
- Adults plan and save for a secure retirement.
Late Adulthood
Examples of milestones include:
- People live longer, healthier lives.
- People are financially secure in their old age.
- People maintain strong social bonds in the community.
Prenatal Development, Infancy & Early Childhood
Examples of milestones include:
- Babies are born healthy to expecting mothers.
- Infants achieve healthy developmental milestones.
- Children enter school prepared to learn.
Childhood
Examples of milestones include:
- Children read on grade level by end of third grade.
- Children participate in regular exercise and eat nutritious meals.
- Children are safe and secure in their home, school, and community.
Youth
Examples of milestones include:
- Youth develop strong social bonds and networks of support with their peers.
- Youth graduate on time from high school.
- Youth pursue a post-secondary education and/or job training program.
Young Adulthood
Examples of milestones include:
- Young adults earn a college degree or advanced career training certification.
- Young adults enter the workforce and gain professional experience.
- Young adults are physically and mentally well.
Adulthood
Examples of milestones include:
- Adults advance in their careers and increase their earnings.
- Adults contribute to their community (i.e., taxes, voting, etc).
- Adults plan and save for a secure retirement.
Late Adulthood
Examples of milestones include:
- People live longer, healthier lives.
- People are financially secure in their old age.
- People maintain strong social bonds in the community.
Success is a lifelong endeavor.
This framework for lifelong success is borrowed heavily from great work across the country, including the Social Genome Project at The Brookings Institute, Strive Together, Promise Neighborhoods, Ready for School, Ready for Life, and others working on supporting people to achieve success at different points in their life. Milestones are examples of evidence-based indicators that are representative of a successful life experience.
Our team helps partners focus on the milestones people achieve in each stage of life, the transition from one stage to the next, and the connections that link people and families to support services and systems and enable their success.
Learn more about our team and about our work, including the Principles of Engagement that guide our services and shape our projects with partners.
