About Us
Teaching Healthy Routines in Very Early Stages (THRIVES) is a digital curriculum designed to support home visiting programs and provide caregivers with practical tools to build healthy routines early. THRIVES contains expert-led content, is community-focused, and is designed for all caregivers. Through short, engaging videos, THRIVES provides science-backed guidance on infant feeding, tummy time, screen time, and sleep.
Meet the Team
We are the Nutrition Education and Behavioral Science (NEBS) team at the University of Florida, led by Dr. Amy Mobley, who is a nationally known registered dietitian, nutrition educator, and researcher. The Dad Central section of THRIVES was developed as part of NEBS Lab member Jamie Zeldman’s dissertation research. Jamie, a registered dietitian and certified health education specialist, received funding for this work from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Research Dietetic Practice Group Student Pilot Award.
Our team of researchers, health professionals, and community partners is dedicated to improving health behaviors and empowering caregivers to build healthy habits in young children from the start. Our goal is to help caregivers make informed choices and set their little ones up for a healthy future. Whether you’re a mom, dad, grandparent, or other caregiver, we offer simple, science-backed strategies to help your child thrive!
Get to know the experts on screen!
Dr. Angelina Bernier
Pediatrician/Pediatric Endocrinologist and Mom
Dr. Angelina Bernier is a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Florida (UF) and a mother of three children. Her clinical care focuses on the treatment of children with diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and obesity, with a special focus on health disparities. She is the Medical Director of the Metabolic & Obesity Clinic at UF Health and the Bariatric Surgery Pediatric Medical Advisor.
Her research focuses on hormonal efficacy of metformin therapy in children with prediabetes and obesity; treatment of comorbidities with a focus on PCOS in the setting of obesity and type 1 diabetes; and behavioral therapy with the use of continuous glucose monitoring and cardiorespiratory fitness measures in children with obesity.
Jessie Erwin
Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, and Mom
Jessie Erwin is a registered dietitian who specializes in science writing and communications. She is committed to educating the public about evidence-based best practices in nutrition.
She enjoys investigating current research and incorporating proven techniques in her work, and practices the lifestyle that she promotes.
Anthony Ray
T.E.A.M. Dad Home Visitor, Podcaster, and Dad
Anthony Ray, the founder of the Dad, Can We Talk? Podcast and a Teaching, Empowering, Advocating for, and Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) Dad home visitor based in Gainesville, FL, is a dedicated husband and father of three children.
He discovered his passion for podcasting while studying at Full Sail University, with the goal of educating, empowering, and advocating for fathers, as well as offering them a platform to share their experiences.
Our Partners
THRIVES is made possible thanks to our incredible partners and funders:
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Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida
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Florida’s Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program
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T.E.A.M Dad Program
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E-Learning, Technology and Communications Team (ETC), College of Education, University of Florida
Funded by:
- National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (award number R34HL163373)
- University of Florida Clinical and Translational Science Institute (award number UL1TR001427)
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Research Dietetic Practice Group Student Pilot Award
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies