How We Help

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Transforming Practice, Policy, and Perspectives

The center is dedicated to transforming policies, practices, and perspectives by partnering with organizations and communities on the following activities.

Community and Clinical Services

The Thrive Center, through our partnership with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, offers child, adolescent and family mental health care.


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Research, Implementation Science and Evaluation

The Thrive Center partners with organizations to conduct applied research and program evaluation using a community-based approach. Our work supports services in the D.C. area and globally, driving sustainable policy and practice changes through data-driven initiatives that include:


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Technical Assistance

The Thrive Center leads in providing technical assistance through partnerships with complementary organizations.

Our technical assistance aims to improve systems, services, and outcomes for children, youth, adults, and families, including those with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, we focus on capacity building to drive sustainable policy and system changes locally, nationally, and internationally on activities that include:

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Workforce Development, Education and Training

The Thrive Center trains a well-prepared workforce to support people with disabilities, special health care, and behavioral health needs, as well as those facing poverty, homelessness, or trauma. We serve state, tribal, and territorial leaders, students, service providers, and administrators locally and globally. Our educational programs develop future leaders and providers.

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Supporting Startups Through the Innovation Hub @Thrive

Through its Innovation Hub, the Thrive Center offers a three-month fellowship program that helps startups scale their impact. Free to attend (no investment; no equity), the fellowship does not include direct investment and is designed to support innovators in validating and proving their intervention model, developing their go-to-market plan, honing their pitch to customers and partners, and making introductions to key decision-makers in health systems, plans, payers and government organizations.