Bernice Weissbourd

Bernice Weissbourd (born January 25, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois) was a pioneering family support advocate, author, and national leader in early childhood development. After studying classical piano at the Juilliard School, she began her career teaching in Chicago public programs, eventually co-founding Family Focus in 1976—a Chicago nonprofit that provided support centers for families with young children. What started as a local initiative expanded into a model for over 20,000 community-based programs across the United States +15+15+15.

In her life and career, Weissbourd championed the idea that supporting families, not just children, is the key to long-term wellbeing. She served as President of Family Resource Coalition (later Family Support America) and played instrumental roles in shaping initiatives such as Early Head Start and the Ounce of Prevention Fund. She lectured at the University of Chicago and authored two influential books—America’s Family Support Programs (1987) and Putting Families First (1994)—which cemented her reputation as both practitioner and thought leader erikson.edu+5+5+5.

Bernice Weissbourd’s quotes continue to inspire professionals and policymakers. As she famously stated: “Parents need all the help they can get. The strongest as well as the most fragile family requires a vital network of social supports.” She also reflected, “Awareness has changed so that every act for children… recognizes that children are part of families and that it is within families that children grow and thrive or don't.” And that: “But however the forms of family life have changed … the role of the family has remained constant and it continues to be the major institution through which children pass en route to adulthood.”