The Citizenism Project
Journey to Reclaim the Role of the Citizen in the Political Ecosystem
The First 1000 Days for Life Long Flourishing
First Principles:
The First 1000 days establishes the foundations for optimal - flourishing human function
Parents’ and caregivers’ relationship with their infants and newborns plays a critical role in shaping the emotional, cognitive, and social development of their child.
Rationale
The US Declaration of Independence, the visionary document written nearly 250 years ago that provided the foundation for the government of, by, for the people.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-- “
In order to attain the radical vision formulated nearly 250 years ago, it is clear that future members of the body politic have an equal opportunity to engage in the life of the nation. Regardless of political ideology, the aspiration of providing the best opportunity to flourish in life starts in the neonatal and early life.
The purpose of The First 1000 Days for Life Long Flourishing Initiative is to provide a blueprint and a course of action that reimagines perinatal health within the complexity of the bio-psycho-social- political environment.
The First 1000 Days for Life Long Flourishing Initiative is informed and inspired by a belief that in democracy all citizens must have an opportunity to flourish and have the capabilities to participate in the public sphere. The Project’s objective is to test the idea that a citizen-focused process can contribute to, and sets the stage for interventions that support individual well-being, thriving and flourishing lives.
The project reimagines the 1000 days of life as focuses on health creation, salutogenesis, and foundations for a flourishing life. We introduce and invite our fellow citizens to consider the salutogenesis paradigm as an organizing framework for health creation. The use of the salutogenic paradigm is well suited to provide a multidisciplinary conceptual framework for the Project.
To fully understand and address this phase as it impacts toward flourishing, we use a human rights framework to articulate how and why we as citizens, organizations and policymakers must take democratic action toward this goal. The Project provides a blueprint developed through The Citizenism Project, as an organizing framework for the effort. In particular we test a framework for citizen engagement. citizen-focused action plan and “toolbox” divided into personal, social, and political components as well as a citizen toolbox. Our theory of change process is informed by understanding complex systems. A suggested strategy to engage with various stakeholders to achieve optimal wellbeing. A set of predetermined outcomes that focus on optimal well-being for each newborn as well as community-wide indicators is established and operationalized.
The Initiative provides an overview of the first thousand days of life for the newborn in order to consider a salutogenic approach that includes an understanding of the biological, cultural, social, environmental and political factors that contribute to human development. Understanding the factors that contribute to child development allows us to set the stage for and develop a salutogenic informed strategy that contributes to individual well being, thriving, and flourishing lives. A citizen focused action plan divided into personal, social and political components suggests strategies to achieve optimal wellbeing. A set of outcomes that focus on optimal well-being for each newborn as well as community wide indicators is established and operationalized.
Questions Addressed
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What are the factors that contribute to health, well being and flourishing lives?
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What creates the optimal environment for thriving lifelong?
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Why is it that some children thrive while others do not? Is it a matter of genetics, IQ, socioeconomic background or education?
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What are the responsibilities of the healthcare system? Clinicians? To address the challenges associated with “Social challenges impacting health?”
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What is an appropriate paradigm to guide the practice and policy?
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What are current existing entities associated with the task for social determinants?
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What is culture and culture of health?
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What are the gaps in our knowledge and what kind of research needs to take place?
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Role of measurement, outcomes, accountability?
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How to anticipate and address unintended consequences of policy interventions?
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How to localize the knowledge base?
The Vision
Healthy individuals in healthy communities
By November 2026 all Americans have the opportunity to experience optimal well being throughout their lifetime.
By November 2026 Americans live in healthy communities and each of us has access to healthcare services that provide the highest level of medical services to maintain, wellness regardless of medical condition and stage of life.
By November 2026 Americans are part of a responsive representative local and national political system
Overview of the First 1000 Days Project
The Citizen Brief: The First 1000 Days
The Citizen Brief for the First 1000 Days Project provides a blueprint as an organizing framework for the effort. In particular we test a framework for citizen engagement. citizen-focused action plan and “toolbox” divided into personal, social, and political components as well as a citizen toolbox.
The Citizen Toolbox for the First 1000 Days
The Citizen Toolbox introduces a set of “tools” to improve citizen engagement. These tools allow unprecedented opportunity to get access to information, mobilize, challenge misinformation and provide for a more deliberative dialogue.
The First 1000 Days of Life Citizen Toolbox is currently in development.
The First 1000 Day of life Local Platform
The community that is best situated to provide an environment for wellbeing is the combination of social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions identified as essential for them to flourish and fulfill their potential.” When we look at the community as a whole, we find three attributes that play a large role in wellbeing: connectedness, livability, and equity.
Get Involved
The Get Personal section helps you define what optimal health means to you and your family by providing an overview of specific tools you can use to establish a baseline for your healthcare needs and develop a plan to improve your health and guarantee access to quality healthcare.
The Get Social section provides the tools you need to engage with your neighbors on a local level and collaborate to affect change on a national level. Only by taking ownership of our own health and holding stakeholders responsible for healthy outcomes can we drive solutions and reform in the healthcare system. Join others in reviewing the suggested activities to achieve our collective goals
The Get Political section helps you learn the issues and the skills needed to participate in the deliberate process of demanding solutions from our political representatives. The resources in this section will help you track regulators and other public servants responsible for shaping our healthcare system – and hold them accountable.