WE’RE ACTIVATING THE FULL POWER OF THE ASCEND COMMUNITY.

Across the country, there are inspiring examples of leadership and civic imagination at work that show us what’s possible now and for future generations. Forward With Families is the multi-year, multi-state strategy to make affordability, economic mobility, and security a reality for all families.

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Ascend at the Aspen Institute

We are the architects of the modern two-generation (2Gen) field, which we’ve built over the past 15 years by cultivating leaders rooted in lived experience, fostering civic imagination and engagement, and by aligning cross-sector champions around shared goals for children and families.

Across the nation, our growing Ascend Community of Parent Advisors, Ascend Fellows and Network Partners are joined by philanthropic and civic leaders in reimagining systems to center families at all levels of decision-making, with family economic mobility and well-being as our North Star.

Forward With Families is how we harness the power of their leadership to accelerate ideas into action, inspire public will, and ensure families are not just at the table, but at the forefront in shaping our collective future.

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FORWARD WITH FAMILIES FOCUS AREAS & ASCEND COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS

Health & Well-Being

Health is foundational to every family’s success. Communities across the country are showing what’s possible when families can access affordable, comprehensive physical and mental health care. Forward With Families advances proven solutions—from whole-family approaches to perinatal care to family-centered mental health services—that strengthen maternal health, engage caregivers early, and improve long-term family well-being.

Child Care & Caregiving

High-quality, affordable child care is essential infrastructure for families, communities, and local economies. Forward With Families elevates proven solutions—aligning policy and systems to expand access, lifting up the importance of the earliest years, and supporting caregivers—so parents can work, children can thrive, and families gain stability and choice.

Employment & Education

Education and employment can drive economic mobility when systems reflect the realities of family life. Forward With Families highlights models that support parenting students through family-friendly campuses, stronger data, and pathways that connect education to well-paid work. Together, these approaches build social capital, improve persistence, and create durable pathways to economic security.

Housing & Food

Stable housing and reliable access to food are cornerstones of family stability. Forward With Families lifts up integrated, prevention-focused solutions—from public-private housing partnerships to coordinated food and housing supports—that keep families stable before crisis hits, ensuring no family has to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table.

Savings & Cash

Financial stability gives families the breathing room to manage emergencies and plan ahead. Forward With Families spotlights solutions that support navigation and planning across tax and benefits systems as well as guaranteed income programs—so families can smooth volatility, build stability, and move forward without being penalized for progress.