Systems Solution

Project 100

Active

A Systems Thinking Model

Early in 2023, leaders from West County Health Centers, Guerneville School District, and River to Coast Children’s Services began a journey to understand the forces that impact toxic stress in 0–5-year-olds in the Lower Russian River Area. Guided by emerging science of the impact of toxic stress on the health and well-being of all humans and the outsized impact on 0–5-year-olds, this group chose to approach the work through the lens of the ‘system’ and brought on Chris McCarthy as a ‘Systems Inquiry’ coach and expert. We used “The Systems Practice Guide” developed by The Omidyar Group. It is a thoughtful and approachable way to explore these kinds of challenges.

Background

The foundations of lifelong health and well-being are laid in the earliest years of life, beginning before birth, when a child’s biological systems – including the neural, immune, and metabolic systems – develop in interconnected ways. Responsive, warm, and appropriately stimulating interactions with consistent caregivers provide the primary pathway for healthy early child development.

Evidence is clear that exposure to high levels of stress in early childhood has long-term effects on chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood. Children who have safe, stable, nurturing environments and relationships buffer the adverse effects of toxic stress and create resilience.

About

Project 100 is a grassroots initiative that engages the entire community in supporting families in creating safe, stable, and nurturing environments and relationships for all babies in the lower Russian River area. The health and well-being of our communities depend on a healthy start for all of our children.

Calling the work ‘Project 100’ as a reminder that there are 100 babies born in the Lower Russian River Area each year, the first step was to develop a framing question, near star, and guiding star.

The Map

All things, other than nature, are made by humans - our cities and towns, our cultures and values, our products and services, and everything else. The most complex things can feel so much like the air we breathe that we can forget that they are designed. System tools help us illuminate and understand these complexities.

Project 100 used The Omidyar Group’s System Practice Guide to guide the Lower Russian River Area in building its system map and identifying areas that might have an outsized impact on our effort.

Leverage

In the context of systems, leverage is a point on the map where you believe you can have an outsized impact. Higher leverage means it's easier to achieve that impact, and lower leverage means it's harder. Neither is good or bad; it helps focus precious resources on the most impactful systemic changes.

We encourage you to click on this link to access the interactive, bilingual map and explore the work more deeply.

Funding / Grants

HRSA Early Childhood Development
County of Sonoma / Measure O - Behavioral Health and Homelessness Community Solutions
County of Sonoma / Measure O - Pathways to Sustainability
County of Sonoma / Opioid Settlement Funds
Partnership HealthPlan of California / Access to Care
John and Vera Long Foundation
Robinwood Foundation
California Commission for Behavioral Health/Maternal Behavioral Health Initiative
First Five Sonoma County / Perinatal Health and Wellness Support
County of Sonoma / Child Passenger Safety
County of Sonoma / Tourism Impact Fund FY23/24
County of Sonoma / Tourism Impact Fund FY24/25
County of Sonoma / Tourism Impact Fund FY25/26
West America Bank
Other Donations
Ginnie and Peter Haas Foundation
Frank Mayhew

Interventions

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Healthy Food Access

Prototyping and testing several efforts to improve access to healthy food in the lower Russian River area. Efforts include a Cooking in Community initiative, with free monthly family meals being piloted by West County Health Centers, a Pregnancy
Produce Prescription program being piloted by a non-profit partner (Food for Thought), and a Community Tables initiative being developed by the local chamber of commerce to engage the community and restaurants to provide free healthy meals for those with food insecurity.

Vending Machine Ribbon Cutting - Lynda Hopkins - Sonoma County Supervisor, Ryan DeHart So.

Health-to-go Vending Machine

Two vending machines placed strategically in the lower
Russian River Area with free supplies to support health and hygiene, including Narcan, pregnancy tests, fentanyl test strips, HIV tests, COVID tests, socks, personal hygiene and dental kits, and condoms.

Community as Medicine

Training local health coaches and facilitators to offer Community As Medicine trauma-informed, group-based support groups that use a coaching model to improve health behaviors and mental well-being for vulnerable populations. These support groups are being offered as a resource for parents and families to support healing from historic trauma and to improve regulation and stress reduction as they support their new family.

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New Beginnings West

new obstetrical and prenatal care within the geographically
isolated lower Russian River area to support high-risk pregnant people and families with individualized treatment planning, psychosocial education, and patient support. This is integrated with obstetric and primary care at West County Health Centers and done in
collaboration with community partners such as Sonoma County Public Health Home Visiting Nursing, Child Parent Institute, and Keystone.

Caring for Every Family

Network of organizations collaborating to make sure every family with a new baby in the lower Russian River has a dedicated support specialist to provide longitudinal support and connection to resources. Child Parent Institute is the lead organization with participation from Sonoma County Public Health Visiting Nursing Program, West County Health Centers Care Coordination, Guerneville Schools, Keystone, Kaiser, and River to Coast Children’s Services.

Kindergym

A specialized, active play program for children ages 1–6 (commonly 3-5) that
combines basic gymnastics, tumbling, and obstacle courses to boost physical, social, and cognitive development. This space is designed for families with young children to have fun while developing friendships, connecting with community resources, and learning parenting skills, and the latest about literacy, child development, health, nutrition, and safety.

Care Closets+

A "store"; located at the Guerneville school that has free items for students
or families need to be successful at school, such as backpacks, jackets, pencils, socks, and
notebooks.

Farmacy Carts

Market-style carts handcrafted by a local master woodworker, Jon Lacaillade, Mike Neil, the Healdsburg Shop Class, and other volunteers. These carts serve as another way for Farm to Pantry to distribute fresh produce with dignity to marginalized communities, without the “shame” of waiting in a food distribution line.

River Babies

A community outreach campaign functions as a movement built around two
audiences with two distinct goals. For local families with babies, the goal is connection — linking new parents to services, to each other, and to the broader community. For community members, the goal is involvement — an invitation to take small, meaningful actions that make life a little easier for the families around them. Each audience is met with its own messaging and its own distinct but related brand identity.

SUD and Parenting

Full Insights Report

The ILN was commissioned to interview people who use substances, may be in treatment, and most of whom have children, to understand the intersection of substance use and parenting in the Lower Russian River area. The resulting insights report, which combines 2x2s, a unified journey map, and themes, is intended to guide the development of more effective messaging and solutions for this difficult topic.

Interventions - Anchor

“Participating in Project 100 has been a very valuable experience. It has been great to witness the eagerness of community organizations and members to join in on the effort and collaborate and learn from one another. Listening and learning from each other has been an integral part of what shapes the work. The unique aspect of it being a project created by individuals within the community who understand the unique needs and challenges of the community is what make it special.”

Valeria De Haro Félix, Public Health Nurse

Event

Community Co-Design Workshop

As part of Project 100, this event brought together the Guerneville School District, River to Coast Children’s Services, and West County Health Centers to engage community members, families, and local organizations in collaborative problem-solving. Hosted at Guerneville Middle School, the gathering focused on two key leverage points identified through Project 100’s systems mapping process: creating equitable access to healthy, culturally relevant food and strengthening support for families during the first 1,000 days of life.

Participants worked in small groups to explore these challenges through a human-centered design process. Guided by “How Might We” prompts, attendees generated creative ideas, identified priorities through dot-voting, and developed early prototypes using a variety of materials and approaches. The event concluded with group presentations and feedback sessions, allowing participants to refine their concepts and build on one another’s insights. Through collaboration, creativity, and community engagement, the event generated promising ideas and strengthened local partnerships dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.