What we do

We envision a world where every child benefits from supportive and caring relationships. 

Our mission is to:

  • Conduct research: Learning how to help children live their best lives.
  • Build evidence-based solutions: Making a difference with solutions that work.
  • Engage others: Spreading the Harmony vision.
  • Generate impact at scale: Working with partners to disseminate solutions.
Two boys of different ethnicities reading together at school.

Buddy Up

Buddy Up is a strategy for supporting children’s relationships with classmates. We are building a web-based tool to enable teachers to more easily implement Buddy Up in their classrooms.

School, kids and teacher with game in circle for child development, activity and growth. High angle, hands and playful student on mat in kindergarten for sensory learning, creative skill or education

Learning Together Challenge

The Learning Together Challenge empowers elementary school teachers to develop and implement strategies that foster cooperative, safe, and supportive classroom environments, promoting positive student relationships and overall well-being.

Portrait, teacher and black woman with students learning in classroom. Education, scholarship and happy, proud and young female educator with children ready for studying or knowledge in middle school

Educator Voices Panel

The Educator Voices Panel is an invitation to educators to help guide the creation of programs and research priorities to improve the well-being of children in our community.

Four diverse young children exploring the forest together and observing leaves with a magnifying glass.

Empathy in Nature Intervention Trial

Working in partnership with Empathy in Nature, a community nonprofit, and with preschools, we are conducting an intervention research trial testing whether transforming playgrounds into safe, nature-rich spaces fosters harmonious relationships among children.

A happy mother and father holding their young daughter, and everyone is smiling.

Squeez

We are developing and testing Squeez, an app designed for parents and their children aged three to seven to connect with one another through activities and games.

A mother sitting on a sofa with her young child on her lap, reading a book to him.

Summer Reading Program Partnership

We are partnering with Maricopa County Summer Reads. Sign up to participate and look for unique challenges from the Sanford Harmony Institute aimed at promoting harmonious relationships while earning extra points and badges for the summer reading program.