Description

Candelen has been on a 4-year journey to bring a doula program into existence. It began with an idea between two colleagues, each with their own birth experiences that was then researched and amplified by analyzing the devastating rates of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. The idea was supported by the leadership of the organization and grew over 3 years into a funded pilot program called NewRoots. 

Our workshop will demonstrate how Candelen moved from a dream to a reality, and the lessons learned along the way. We will share the approach we took, the philosophy we needed to have, the landscape analysis we completed, how we utilized public data, the stakeholders we engaged with, the leveraging of external expertise, the importance of a theory of change, and how we leaned into the lived experiences of those in the community.

We will also cover the strategies we used to raise funds to launch the pilot, and how we plan to use the pilot phase to inform our program delivery, outcomes, and impact for those we serve. In addition, we will help the group consider the potential roadblocks ahead and how to be proactive in addressing those. Attendees will each receive a booklet called a ‘Launch Plan’ that includes specific prompts that follow the steps in Candelen’s journey. As the presenters walk through each step in their journey, attendees will use the Launch Plan booklet to identify their dream project, and begin formulating data sets that need to be analyzed, stakeholders to engage, etc. See Group Engagement below for more information. 

Key Takeaways:

• Inspire those who have innovative ideas to move ideas into action.
• Identify data sources that inform decision making
• Leave with a ‘Launch Plan’ that provides 2-3 tangible steps on how to make attendees’ ideas come to light.

Cost:

Members: $0

Prospective Members: $30

• *In many cases membership may be less the cost of a few workshops, and provide a lot more benefits to you and your organization, please contact Member Services for more information and potentially check out this event at no cost - membership@azimpactforgood.org.

Meet Our Speakers: Kavita Bernstein and Ruth Ray, Candelen

Kavita Bernstein, Candelen

Kavita currently serves as the VP of Programs and Impact at Candelen, supporting numerous programs across the state in the area of early childhood. Before being in her role, Kavita worked at First Things First, overseeing early childhood preventive strategies and contracts. Her strong foundation in serving children and families was rooted in 14 years working in community mental health.

Ruth Ray, Candelen

Ruth Ray brings over 18 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field, with a background that spans direct service in classrooms, coaching child care programs, and leading teams through quality improvement initiatives. She has spent more than five years in management roles, including as a Program Director and Supervisor, overseeing large contracts, budgets, and program implementation. Ruth is passionate about supporting children and families through innovative program development, parent education, and strong community partnerships. She holds a Master’s degree in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University.