About OurConnect

The science of connection,
finally for families.

OurConnect is built on nearly five decades of peer-reviewed research into parent-child emotional connection. Every family deserves not just access to that science, but to the insights it can offer -- a clearer understanding of the connection they share with their child, and practical guidance for deepening that connection.

The Science

Emotional connection shapes the developing brain

The quality of early parent-child interaction is not just a feeling. It is measurable, observable, and has documented effects on neurological development, stress regulation, and long-term behavioral health. The first five years establish patterns that can last a lifetime.

0–5
Years when emotional connection has its most profound neurological impact
47yrs
Of peer-reviewed research behind the science we're built on
Secure emotional connection supports healthy cortisol and stress-response systems from infancy forward.
Parent-infant interaction quality directly influences cortical network development in ways that can be observed and measured.
Strengthening connection in the early years improves behavior regulation in both home and classroom settings.
From the Research
"Connection is not a soft outcome. It is the organizing principle of healthy development."
Reflected across nearly five decades of peer-reviewed research by Dr. Martha G. Welch and colleagues
What connection looks like

Emotional connection is not a single moment. It is the quality of attunement, responsiveness, and mutual engagement that a parent and child build together over time. It can be observed, scored, and strengthened.

The Connection Checkup gives families a window into that dynamic, scored against a validated research framework, with practical guidance for deepening it.

The Welch Emotional Connection Screen

A research tool, now available to families for the first time

Dr. Martha G. Welch
Dr. Martha G. Welch, MD
Founding Scientific Advisor · Professor Emeritus in Psychiatry, in Pediatrics, and in Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center

Dr. Martha G. Welch developed the Welch Emotional Connection Screen over nearly five decades of study at Columbia University. The WECS is a rigorously validated observational tool that allows trained specialists to assess the quality of parent-child emotional connection from a brief recorded interaction. Dr. Welch has since founded the Martha G. Welch Center for Emotional Connection, continuing to advance this science.

Until now, WECS has been used exclusively in clinical research settings. OurConnect holds the exclusive commercialization license from Columbia University, making this the first time families can access a WECS-powered assessment directly.

Exclusively licensed from Columbia University, in ongoing scientific partnership with Dr. Welch and the Martha G. Welch Center for Emotional Connection.
Research Legacy
47
years of peer-reviewed science
Published in leading journals including Science Translational Medicine, with studies spanning NICU intervention, preschool development, and community-based family support.
Key Studies
2019
The Welch Emotional Connection Screen: validation of a brief mother-infant relational health screen
Foundational WECS validation study · PubMed
↗
2022
Facilitating early parent-infant emotional connection improves cortical networks in preterm infants
Measurable neurological impact · PubMed
↗
2024
Preschool-based mother-child emotional preparation program improves emotional connection, behavior regulation in home and classroom
Randomized controlled trial · Frontiers in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
↗
What We Make Possible

Bringing the science home

The Connection Checkup is the first product to make WECS-powered assessment available directly to parents. What once required a research setting and a trained clinical team now takes three minutes and a smartphone.

Built on an exclusive commercialization license from Columbia University, bringing the science of emotional connection to families for the first time.
Scientifically validated assessment
Every Connection Checkup is scored against the same WECS framework used in peer-reviewed research, by trained connection specialists.
A personalized Relational Health Report
Not a generic score. A nuanced snapshot of your connection across four dimensions, with guidance tailored to your child's age and your specific interaction.
A measure that grows with your family
Connection changes. Re-measure every three months to track how your relationship deepens over time, and see what's working.
Human review, not an algorithm
Every video is reviewed by a trained connection specialist. Real expertise, applied with care, for every family.
The Team

People who have spent careers in this work

The OurConnect team has supported Dr. Welch's research and programs for more than two decades. We know this science deeply, and we built this company to make it available to every family.

Jim Chesnutt
Jim Chesnutt
Co-CEO & Co-Founder
Over 20 years building infrastructure, content, and programs in support of Dr. Welch's research and clinical work.
Ally Allison
Ally Allison
Co-CEO & Co-Founder
Communications and relationship lead, with deep ties to Dr. Welch and the Welch Center community.
Leslie Lillard
Leslie Lillard
Chief Operating Officer
Operational backbone of OurConnect, with a track record of building systems that scale without losing soul.
BreAnne Ferris
BreAnne Ferris
CTO & Solutions Architect
Leads platform development and technical architecture, with advanced AI certification and deep product experience.
Advisory Board

Spanning science, pediatrics, and global strategy

Our advisors bring together the clinical credibility, institutional relationships, and strategic experience needed to build a new category in family health.

Scientific & Clinical Advisors
Dr. Martha G. Welch
Dr. Martha G. Welch, MD
Founding Scientific Advisor
Columbia University · Developer of WECS & FNI
Dr. Katie Richardson, MD
Dr. Katie Richardson, MD
Pediatrician
Dr. Alice Gong, MD
Dr. Alice Gong, MD
San Antonio Children's Hospital
Dr. Josephine Nguyen, MD
Dr. Josephine Nguyen, MD
Former White House Fellow
U.S. Navy Physician
Strategic & Business Advisors
Marc Jaffe
Marc Jaffe
Nonprofit CEO · Early Childhood & Mental Health Advocate · Board Leader & Advisor
Leo Tilman
Leo Tilman
Fortune 100 Advisor
Author, Financial Darwinism
Vince Davis
Vince Davis
Community Health Leader · Tribal, Veterans & Underserved Communities
Jeff Manley
Jeff Manley
Capital Advisor
Brandon Smith
Brandon Smith
GovTech Leader
App Development

Your first scientifically validated
connection checkup.

Understand and strengthen the emotional connection between you and your child, backed by nearly five decades of peer-reviewed science.

Start my checkup →