Welcome to the new CINCH website! Check out what we do and get involved.

Uniting the Community to Protect & Improve

Children's Health

Since 1993, our network of professionals and advocates have collaborated to ensure a safe, healthy future for kids in Hampton Roads, VA, and beyond.

CINCH is a diverse coalition of healthcare professionals, advocates, educators, parents, and community members. We come together so that every child can grow up safe and healthy.


Together we make an impact on kids’ health!

425+

partners — and growing!

CINCH’s strength as a coalition has always been in our many partners who contribute both as individuals and as representatives of other organization to help plan, implement and participate in our work and projects.

$6

million in grants

Since 1993, CINCH has worked to bring grant funding into our communities to support a variety of projects impacting children’s health, including projects impacting policy, health behaviors and health equity.

17%

increase in immunizations

CINCH began our work as a CDC demonstration project to raise immunization rates, and successfully raised rates in our area by 17% between 1993 and 1996.

Parents and toddler waving towards a laptop

Because every child has the right to good health

Early childhood is a critical stage of physical, mental, and emotional development — and too many families lack access to support and resources to help them raise happy, healthy kids.

CINCH is here to change that!

We believe that all children have the right to health and safety, no matter who they are, where they live, or what their home situation looks like.

And for 30 years, we’ve brought together the Hampton Roads community to directly speak to the needs of local families. If you have kids, care about kids, or care about our greater community, then you have a place at CINCH.

We listen to community voices & collaborate to make change

With hundreds of members and partners, CINCH draws from a wide range of professional backgrounds, trainings, and lived experiences.

Together with community members, we seek to provide evidence-based infant, child, and maternal health support.

We focus on root causes to eliminate health disparities and ensure more equitable access for all families in the Hampton Roads area.

Won’t you join us and be part of the solution?

CINCH focuses on taking action on priority issues identified by our community, including…
  • Advancing black maternal health equity
  • Promoting breastfeeding
  • Supporting action to end community violence
  • Improving asthma management
  • Teaching preschoolers skills for emotional and social wellbeing
  • Helping families make changes for healthier eating and activity
  • Taking action to prevent and treat teen substance use
  • Addressing teen mental health needs

Featured stories from CINCH members

Nichelle smiling
Nichelle Clark IBCLC & Owner, SonShine & Rainbows Lactation

CINCH member since 2019

“CINCH has been pivotal in expanding my practice. They bring community partners together, allowing us to learn and grow and share resources. I’m able to share the amazing work of CINCH & their community partners with my clients, resources they may not know exist.”

Email Nichelle

Visit Nichelle’s website

Matt Herman
Matt Herman, MPH, CHES EVMS Brock Institute

CINCH member since 2012

Associate Director, M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community & Global Health

Instructor, Pediatrics, Community Health & Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School

“CINCH excels in fostering strategic alliances, programming and education across Eastern VA resulting in meaningful outcomes for children and families. The Brock Institute at EVMS has benefited greatly through alignment with CINCH on maternal/infant health, pediatric nutrition, mental health wellness and addressing health. Genuinely thankful to be a part of community partners who are true leaders in improving child and family health, past, present and future.”

Beth Parker
Beth Parker EVMS Minus 9-5

CINCH member since 2019

Associate Director of EVMS, Minus 9 to 5

“CINCH and Minus 9 to 5 have a symbiotic relationship; both coalitions work in the maternal child space using a collective impact approach. Our partnership reminds me off a dove’s tail, we have strategically chosen our areas of focus to ensure we are avoiding duplication of efforts, and when we see overlap, we manage to pool our knowledge and resources, to enhance that particular area of focus. Together, our reach spans across the ages and stages of a child’s life, with a hope that together, we can help Southeastern Virginia’s children grow up healthy, thriving and ready for success in life.”

CINCH is affiliated & connected with...

American Cancer Society logo
YMCA logo
Whro logo
Virginia Premier logo
Virginia Poison Center logo
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles logo
Virginia Cooperative Extension logo
Virginia Beach Department of Public Health logo
City of Virginia Beach logo
The Children's Center logo
Success in School Starts at Square One logo
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter logo
Sentara logo
Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority logo
Patient Advocate Foundation logo
The City of Norfolk logo
My Active Child logo
Loving Steps Giving Kids A Healthy Start logo
Kool Smiles Kids Club logo
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission logo
Endependence Center logo
Eastern Virginia Medical School logo
Dr, Linda Mintle logo
HealthCare logo
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters logo
Children's Harbor logo
Chesapeake Public Schools logo
Virginia Department of Health logo
Elijah Foundation logo
Bon Secours logo
American Lung Association logo