The Nurture Effect: A Nurturing Nation
A nation guided by compassion rather than power.
For decades, America has been shaped by a powerful idea: maximize profit, no matter the cost. The result has been rising wealth for a few, alongside growing harm to health, families, communities, and democracy. The Nurture Effect: A Nurturing Nation is an initiative of Values to Action dedicated to changing that story—by placing human wellbeing, fairness, and compassion at the center of public life.
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What is A Nurturing Nation?
Why Start with Health Care?
A Nurturing Nation is a long-term movement to help the United States become a society that consistently supports healthy development, strong families, and thriving communities. Grounded in decades of behavioral science and public health research, we work to:
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Challenge systems that prioritize profit over people
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Advance evidence-based policies that foster wellbeing and equity
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Build a broad, values-driven movement rooted in kindness, dignity, and shared responsibility
Our initial focus is universal health care—Medicare for All.
Health care is both a moral imperative and a powerful starting point. Guaranteeing care as a human right affirms a foundational principle: people matter more than profit. That principle can—and must—extend to other systems that shape our lives, from economic security to education, climate, and democracy.
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How We Build Change
A Nurturing Nation combines research, storytelling, and organizing to help people see both the problem and the possibility:
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Public Education – Clear, accessible essays, briefs, podcasts, and media that counter misinformation and explain what nurturing policies look like in practice.
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Movement Building – Growing a diverse base of individual and organizational supporters who endorse and advance this work.
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Community Action – Organizing local Action Circles that share evidence, engage leaders, and promote practical reforms.
We don’t lead with blame or ideology. We lead with shared values—and with hope grounded in science.
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Coming Soon
The Nurture Effect Podcast explores how nurturing environments can transform lives and strengthen communities. Inspired by Tony Biglan’s book, The Nurture Effect, it features scientists, advocates, policymakers, and everyday leaders sharing practical, hopeful strategies for building a more caring and just society.
Get Involved
The Nurutre Effect: A Nurturing Nation is a growing movement. Join us:
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Subscribe on Substack to stay informed and help spread the word
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Pledge your support for a society guided by nurturance and wellbeing
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Donate to support research, organizing, and public education
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Listen & subscribe to The Nurture Effect Podcast (Coming Soon)
Together, we can choose nurturance over neglect—and people over profit.
ENDORSEMENTS
The Nurture Effect: A Nurturing Nation is an initiative of Values to Action.
Learn more at valuestoaction.org.
