§ 00 / Introduction

Understanding
how young
minds develop.

Rigorous, video-based education on youth neurodevelopment, built for the clinicians, educators, and families who meet children where development happens.

Browse the video libraryUpcoming webinar
Featured — Series 01
[ series reel / 45s ]
Now streaming
What a developing
brain is actually doing.
04 parts
Dr. R. Blitz, Optum— Sep 2026
§ 01
Mission

The Alliance exists to translate the science of youth neurodevelopment into education that practitioners, parents, and educators can actually use.

“Good care begins with a shared vocabulary. Our work is building that vocabulary, in public.”

We commission and curate long-form video from clinicians and researchers working across pediatric neurology, developmental psychology, and education. Every episode is written for people who need to get something done on Monday morning, not for a conference audience.

We are a small, independent 501(c)(3). Our library, webinars, and events are free to watch and attend. What we ask in return is attention, and, if you can give it, support.

§ 02

Video library

Watch at your own pace. All programming is free and openly available.

[ lecture still ]
Lecture
42 MIN
Core series

The executive function years, reconsidered

A working model of executive function development between ages 6 and 14, and the assessment instruments that still miss it.

No. 01Watch →
[ webinar still ]
Webinar
1 HR 08
Clinicians & educators

Attention, regulation, and the classroom

Recorded panel with three practicing clinicians on what teachers observe that diagnostic tools do not.

No. 02Watch →
[ primer still ]
Primer
18 MIN
For families

Sleep architecture from age 4 to 17

A short visual primer on how sleep stages reorganize through adolescence, and why the shift matters for mood and learning.

No. 03Watch →
[ case study still ]
Case study
34 MIN
Case studies

When language delay isn't a language delay

Walking through three presentations that look like expressive delay and require meaningfully different responses.

No. 04Watch →
[ conversation still ]
Conversation
56 MIN
For families

What we owe siblings

A long conversation on the developmental experience of siblings in families where one child has significant care needs.

No. 05Watch →
[ lecture still ]
Lecture
39 MIN
Core series

Adolescent risk, revisited

A reframing of adolescent risk-taking from deficit to developmental feature, with implications for school policy.

No. 06Watch →
§ 03

Upcoming webinar

Date
September 2026
Location
West Palm Beach, FL
Format
Hybrid webinar

An evening on developmental evidence.

Our inaugural public event. The keynote will introduce the Alliance's framework for translating developmental science into day-to-day practice, followed by a moderated Q&A with clinicians and parents in the audience.

RB
Dr. Rachel Blitz
Keynote speaker · Optum
RSVP
Seats will be limited. Leave an email to be notified when registration opens.
Capacity goal: several hundred attendees
§ 04
Board of Directors

A volunteer board, chosen for clinical and civic judgement.

Member No. 01
Board Chair
Portrait of James McManus

James McManus

LMHC with over a decade building and leading behavioral-health programs for neurodivergent children and families.

Member No. 02
Treasurer
Portrait of Kim Wade

Kim Wade

Former CFO of a Southeast insurance brokerage; runs a fractional accounting and consulting firm.

Member No. 03
Board Member
Portrait of Deborah Nussbaum

Deborah Nussbaum

Senior Director at Optum Behavioral Health leading national substance use disorder strategy. PhD, LCSW.

§
Non-profit status
Registered 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible as permitted.
IRS determination letter (PDF, forthcoming) →