Strengthening Families An Effective Approach to Supporting Families

Strengthening FamiliesAn Effective Approach to

Supporting Families

Building Protective Factors

AgendaA brief historyOverview of the Strengthening

Families modelThe Five Protective Factors

FrameworkSeven key strategies that build

protective factorsWhere Do I Start

ObjectivesUnderstand the key elements of the National

Strengthening Families FrameworkGain an understanding and knowledge of

building five protective factors with familiesGain knowledge of strategies and resources for

strengthening each of the protective factorsIdentify ways your programs are already

supporting the development of protective factors in the families you serve.

Consider how your programs can help families build protective factors through implementing “seven key strategies.”

Strengthening Families

Is systematic

Is national

• Reaches large

numbers of children

• Has impact long before abuse or neglect occurs

• Promotes optimal development for all children

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY

Began as a search for a new approach to child abuse prevention that:

What is Strengthening Families?Developed by the Center for the Study of Social

PolicyAn approach to working with families based on

evidence that when five key protective factors are present:

Evidence on what factors reduce child abuse and neglect

Connections between these factors and what effective programs to build protective factors

Policy and practice changes to infuse the model in state and local systems

In the beginning….

Our Vision for the World

A world in which children are cherished, families are strong and connected to their communities, and communities

thrive.

We can prevent child abuse,AND

We can promote optimal healthy growth and development of children.

Mobilizing partners, communities and families to build family strengths, promote optimal development and

reduce child abuse and neglect

Strengthening Families ApproachShift the focus from risks and deficits to

strengths and resiliency

Benefits ALL familiesBuilds on family strengths, buffers risk, and

promotes better outcomesCan be implemented through small but

significant changes in everyday actionsBuilds on and can become part of existing

programs, strategies, systems and community opportunities

Is grounded in research, practice and implementation knowledge

“On what’s strong, not what’s wrong”.

“Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” -- Brad Henry

“I often think we should change our name from the Office of Child Abuse to the Office of Strengthening Families.”---Lee Ann Kelly, Assistant Chief of the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, California Department of Social Services, February 2011

Strengthening Families Focus

Strengthening FamiliesGuiding Principles

All families have strengths All families need support The Protective Factors support in the prevention of child abuse

Implications:

Shift focus from family support to family strengtheningProtective Factors become core of our community’s strategies

PURPOSE: REDUCE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

STARTING WITH CHILDREN 0-5

• The very highest rates of abuse and neglect occur for children under 4. This age group is a third of all children entering foster care and who are likely to stay the longest.

• The brain’s primary architecture is developing in years 0-5, when family stability, skills and knowledge have the greatest impact on development.

• Adverse experiences at an early age create lifelong risk for multiple problems; mitigating these traumas early is most effective.

Early Care and Education Programs

Daily contact with parents and children

Uniquely intimate relationships with families

A universal approach of positive encouragement and education for all families

An early warning and response system to the first signs of trouble

Going where the children are:

Five Protective FactorsParental resilienceSocial connectionsConcrete support in times of needKnowledge of parenting and child

developmentSocial and emotional competence of

children

Stronger families

Social and emotionalcompetence of children

Concrete support in times of need

Knowledge of parentingand child development

Parental resilience

Less abuse and neglect

Social connections

A Protective Factors ApproachBuilds on existing high quality child care and

early educationDoesn’t ignore the relevance of risk factors in

identifying families at risk of abuse and neglect

Programs using this approach help families build and draw on their natural support networks which is critical for long term success

High-quality care doesn’t necessarily reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect unless it includes strategies designed to work with families in particular ways

A Protective Factors ApproachProtective factors are positive attributes that

strengthen all families, and can reach families who are at risk without making them feel singled out or judged

Develops partnerships with parents that encourage them to seek out staff if they are in need of extra support

Looks for attributes that might serve as buffers, helping parents find alternate resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively under stress.

When these factors are present, child maltreatment appears to be less likely to occur.

Strengthening Families Protective FactorsFive protective factors that have common

sense appeal while being well grounded in evidence.

Shift focus from family deficits to family strengths and resiliency.

Promote a wide understanding of what programs can do (or are already doing) to promote healthy child development and strong families.

Create a common language and approach in communities and community organizations.

Protective Factor Plain Language

Parental ResilienceBE STRONG AND FLEXIBLE

Social ConnectionsPARENTS NEED FRIENDS

Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

BEING A GREAT PARENT IS PART NATURAL AND PART LEARNED

Concrete Support in Times of Need

WE ALL NEED HELP SOMETIMES

Social and Emotional Competence of Children

PARENTS NEED TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN COMMUNICATE AND SHOW THEM LOVE AND RESPECT20

Parental Resilience

The ability to cope and bounce back from all kinds of challenges. No one can eliminate stress from parenting altogether, but building resilience can affect how a parent deals with stress.

Involves creatively solving problems, building trusting relationships, maintaining a positive attitude, and seeking help when needed.

Resilience develops within the context of trusting relationships.

“Be strong and flexible”

When Parents are Resilient, What Does it Look Like?

Parents become stronger based on all the skills they learn. They can respond to stressful situations in productive ways.

Parents feel supported and able to solve problems. They are able to develop trusting relationships with

others and reach out for help. Parents are mentally healthy

Parental ResilienceThe majority of parents

who were abused or neglected as children do not abuse or neglect their own children.

The single factor most commonly identified that breaks this cycle is the development of empathy for self and others through caring relationships

Parental ResilienceResilience is a complex thing, and all the skills

build on each other It’s kind of like when we talk about sharing.

We want children to learn to share, but we know there are lots of skills that have to come together for a child to really be able to share.

Certain skills and attitudes are building blocks for resiliency. These are things that we can try to help parents build as they go through hard times.

Parental Resilience

Communication Skills

Coping Strategies

Belief System

Hope

RecognizeChallenges

Acknowledge feelings

Problem Solve

Gather Resources

Make goodchoices

Take action

How you can build parental resilience

Parental Resilience –Be Strong and FlexibleShow parents: They are valued Staff is concerned about them Help is available

Provide trusting relationships and extra support for those parents who need it.

Remember, it is not your job to “fix” families, instead, get them involved with professionals if they need it.

How you can build parental resilience

Your role is to help build the protective factors for families—when things are fine or when families are stressed that may lead to more serious problems.

Use your daily contact with parents to let them know you care about them. This way, families know they can talk to you if they need help.

Be sensitive to where parents are coming from, and where they are in the building blocks.

Figure out what a parent’s strengths are, and build on those strengths.

What does resiliency mean to you? How do you keep it going?

Who can I count on in my family, neighborhood or community and why?

When do I know if I need more child development information?

How does it impact my child when basic needs are not met? What does social and emotional health look like for my

child?

Sample Parent Questions

VisualizationProud Moment

How were you feeling?

What was happening in your life at this time?

What kind of day had you had?

How supported or stressed were you feeling?

Lost It MomentHow were you

feeling?What was

happening in your life at this time?

What kind of day had you had?

How supported or stressed were you feeling?

Social ConnectionsSocial connections are

strengthened by creating space and opportunities for parents to connect with other parents.

Social isolation is strongly connected to child maltreatment

More young families than ever before are living far away from their extended families and need to develop their own social support networks with friends, co-workers, neighbors, and other parents with children of similar ages

“Parents Need Friends”

Social ConnectionsFor preventing child abuse and neglect, it’s

not just having social connections, but the quality of the connections:

Having someone to talk to and vent frustration, especially about parenting challenges

Connections that help families to access resources – e.g. a friend that will provide babysitting

Opportunities to see other parents parenting – this allows parents to pick up some good techniques and perhaps also recognize some strategies that don’t work

Social networks that include positive norms about parenting – conversations with other parents about the joys of raising children and sharing tips for positive things to do with children

Social Connections

Friends, family, neighbors and other members of a community provide emotional support and concrete assistance to parents.

Addresses social isolation…a key risk factor related to child abuse and neglect.

Positive social connections:Reinforce positive norms about parenting.Provide assistance in times of need.Serve as a resource for parenting information or help

solving problems.

“Parents need friends”

Social connections

Talk about children and

parenting

Vent frustrations

See other parents

“in action”Give and

get advice

Trade child care

SOCIAL

SUPPORT

Share joys & challenges

of parenting

Share resources

Promoting Social Connections

Provide space in the program where parents can sit or stand and talk for a few minutes, you can promote social connections

Blending educational and social activities

Structured social activities Tailor some events toward the men in

children’s lives:“Daddy and Me” eventsBe open to grandfathers, uncles, and

other men who are important in children’s lives.

Extend personal invitations to isolated parents

Benefits of Social ConnectionsHow did it feel to talk and hear about these

memories?What, if anything, did your partner do or say

that was particular helpful to you in these discussions?

What learning or realization strikes you as you reflect on these two situations?

What did you notice as you compared what was going on in your life at the time of the positive experience to the time of the difficult experience?

In the second situation, the difficult one, what could someone else have done that might have been helpful or supportive to you?


Parents need access to the types of supports and services that can minimize the stress of difficult situations, such as a family crisis, a condition such as substance abuse, or stress associated with lack of resources.

Ensuring the basic needs of a family are met (food, clothing, shelter).

Connecting families to services particularly those that may feel more difficult to accept (domestic violence, substance abuse counseling, mental health, etc.).“We all need help sometimes”

Support in Times of NeedHigh degrees of stress and low

material resources Lack of resources may

contribute to depression and low self-esteem

Helping families access resources and/or mental health services are shown to reduce abuse and neglect

Early care and education staff connect with the everyday lives of families enabling them to connect parents to resources when they most need it

FOOD

JOB TRAINING

EDUCATION

HEALTH CARE

CLOTHING

SHELTER

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

MENTAL HEALTH

SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR

CHILDREN

Concrete support in times of need


Times of need don’t only occur in families in poverty

All families have times of need, whether it’s at the birth of a new child, health problems, etc.

You can be a resource for the families by helping them access the services they need and letting them know that you can be a source for that information

Concrete Support in Times of NeedAn important way of intervening before a crisis

happensWhen a family is unable to meet their basic needs,

they cannot focus on less-immediate concerns like positive discipline and helping their child’s development

We can help respond to a crisis: linking them with food, shelter, clothing

They may need assistance with daily needs: health care, education, job opportunities

Services for parents: depression and other mental health issues, domestic violence, substance abuse

Specialized services for children – for example, assessment and services for social-emotional development problems

How you can help families access concrete supportDistribute community resource

guidesInvite community partners to share information with families and staff

Refer parents to community resources

Help parents overcome barriers to getting services they need

What do we do when we can’t find a resource for families?

Who can we call to get more resources?


Child abuse and neglect is often related to a lack of understanding of basic child development Inappropriate

expectations Respond to children’s

behaviors in excessively negative ways

Common stresses of childbearing may trigger harsh punishments or episodes of abuse

BEING A GREAT PARENT IS PART NATURAL AND PART LEARNED

Knowledge of Parentingand Child Development

Having accurate information about raising children and appropriate expectations for their behavior helps parents better understand and care for their children.

It is important that information is available when parents need it and that it is relevant to their lives.

Parents whose own families used harsh discipline techniques or parents of children with developmental or behavioral challenges or special needs often require extra information and support.

Parents are more able to learn from people they trust and feel respected by, particularly when they are struggling.

Parents learn by education, modeling, and coaching.“Parenting is part natural, part learned”


Basic Child Development

Teachable Moments

Modeling & Observation

Challenging Behaviors

Discipline Alternatives/ Techniques

Knowledge of parenting and child development

Teachable

moments

Basic

child

dev.

info

Techniques

Challenging behaviors

Modeling & observation

Discipline alternatives

When does a child typically… Become potty trained? Sleep through the night? Help the family out by cleaning up

around the house? Walk?


“Typical” Child Development What did you notice during this

activity? Where you surprised by anything? What happens when another parent

or caregiver doesn’t agree with you? Remember that all children develop

differently.

Social Emotional CompetencePromoting social-emotional competence actually

refers to activities on three different levels:All children need opportunities to learn how to relate

to others, express their emotions, and solve conflicts. What kids bring home will affect how their parents react to them.

For children who have challenging behaviors, how we respond to that behavior will affect the child’s development and how their parents deal with it. Resolving those behavior problems will promote a healthy, positive relationship between the child and her parents. As provider, we can role modeling that positive responses.

For those children who have experienced trauma, we need to pay special attention to their social-emotional development and help their families get the services they need.

Social emotional issues of young children are becoming an increasing issue in early care and education settings.

In addition to preparing kids for school and dealing with problems before they get too serious, promoting children’s social-emotional competence also changes how they are parented.

Social Emotional Competence

Social and EmotionalCompetence of Children

A child’s ability to interact positively with others, self-regulate, and effectively community his or her emotions has a great impact on the parent-child relationship.

Challenging behaviors increase the risk for abuse…working with children early to keep their development on track helps keep them safe.

Children who have greater social and emotional competence have more positive interactions and can put their feelings into words rather than behaviors which helps parents be more responsive and less likely to yell and hit.

Rich programs of early education and care provide added benefits in this area.

“Help children communicate”

5 Key Social/Emotional Competencies Self and other awareness: understanding

that one's actions have consequences in terms of others' feelings.

Mood management Self-motivation Empathy Management of relationships

POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL TEACHING STRATEGIES

INTENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED INTERVENTIONS

Social-emotional competence

Adapted from: Fox, L., Dunlap, G., Hemmeter, M. L., Joseph, G. & Strain, P. (2003). The teaching pyramid: A model supporting social competence and preventing challenging behavior in young children. Young Children, 58(4), 48-52

Children’s Healthy Social and Emotional Development

Early childhood’s impact on social and emotional development happens in two ways Through activities in the

classroom Working with parents to

help them build positive relationships with their children

Difficult child behaviors do not themselves cause abuse, but are commonly part of an escalating cycle of negative interactions that may include physical abuse

Social Emotional CompetencyIncreasing

enrollments of children with challenging behaviors

What children learn in the program they take home to parents

Role modeling responses to parents can be very helpful

Challenging behaviors often indicate trauma

The challenge is to help families get these children the services they need

FIVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS PARENTAL RESILIENCE

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

KNOWLEDGE of PARENTING and CHILD DEVELOPMENT

CONCRETE SUPPORT in TIMES of NEED

SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE of CHILDREN

Program Strategies

Support the development of protective factors by:

• Facilitating friendships and mutual support• Strengthening parenting• Responding to family crises• Linking families to services and opportunities• Valuing and supporting parents• Facilitating children’s social and emotional

development• Observing and responding to early warning

signs of abuse or neglect

Conversations With ParentsWhat’s hard about being a parent?Are there ways our staff could help you deal with

those challenges?We want this to be a welcoming place where

families feel comfortable asking for help. What are some of your ideas about how we can do that?

We are particularly concerned when parents seemed stressed, isolated, or overwhelmed. Do you have ideas about how we can reach out to parents during those times?

We want to make it easy for parents to make connections with each other. How can we do that?

Conversations With StaffWhat are we already doing to build

protective factors? What could we do?How might this affect our work? What

would be the benefits? What would be the difficulties?

How might building protective factors impact parents and how parents relate to their children?

How might building protective factors impact the parents we are most concerned about?

Where to Start?

• How helpful would this change or action be to all families?

• How helpful would it be to families that staff are most concerned about?

• How easily could it be done without creating new burdens for staff?

Group ActivityHow can our

programs promote these protective factors?What do we already

do?What could we

consider doing?

Strengths and Skills Assessment

What experiences or events gave you your most valued strengths and skills?

What kinds of strengths and skills did you discover with yourself? Others?

What kinds of strengths and skills might parents need to make them stronger parents?

Values and BeliefsThere are a wide range of values and beliefs about parenting behaviors and child development.It is important to learn ways to support all families.A parent’s culture may influence the way they think their child should develop.

Parents Need Parents have teachable moments just like children do, usually when their child has a new challenging behavior or they are trying to tackle a new task like potty training (teachable moments). Parents need other ways to respond to their kids other than what they learned from their parents (discipline alternatives).

Parents Need Provide “just in time” parent education (parents will be more receptive to information right when an issue comes up, take that opportunity!) Be a role model—let parents watch how you handle kid’s behaviors (modeling and observation) Arrange formal parent education activities (techniques) Partner with parent education organizations Share resourcesPartner “seasoned” parents with those parents who are just getting started.

Parents Need Information to help them understand the reasons behind their child’s behavior (basic child development). Techniques to manage those behaviors as kids grow (techniques). Perspective, to put their child’s behavior in the context of overall development (for example: intense infant crying is a phase that will pass; stubborn and independent behavior in toddlers is normal as they develop (challenging behaviors).

Small butsignificantchanges

• Step One: Engagement•Step Two: Involvement

• Step Three: Empowerment

How do I do it?

How do we implement the seven strategies?

Strategy Cards Activity

Protective Factors Necessary for All Families to Thrive

Activity Card

I will continue to have courage after a crisis and during stressful times

What supports can you rely on during tough times?

Protective Factors Necessary for all Families to Thrive - ACTIVITY

I have people who know me, friends, and at least one person who supports my parenting.

Who is in your home, neighborhood, or community that you can count on?

Protective Factors Necessary for all Families to Thrive

Parenting is part natural and part learned.

How do you get the knowledge you needed? How do you know when you need more information?

Protective Factors Necessary for all Families to ThriveMy family can access basic needs when they need it.

What does it feel like when these basic rights are not met?

How does this impact your family?

Challenging BehaviorsThink about a time

you talked with a family over a child’s challenging behavior and the parent was receptive

Think about a time you talked with a family over a child’s challenging behavior and the parent became angry

Challenging BehaviorsHow did you feel when the parent reacted the

way they did?How did you prepare to talk to the parent?Did you feel supported in your role as

provider?

Protective Factors Necessary for all Families to ThriveMy child feels loved, a sense of belonging, and

can get along with others.How do you know your child feels loved?How do you know your child feels a sense of

belonging?How do you know they can get along with

others?

Tips for Providers Work on these skills every day. Model these behaviors to your children. Be alert to teachable moments that occur

naturally in the classroom; for example: moments when you notice a shift in mood, a conflict, a caring act.

Develop a bulletin board with “feeling” faces or a bulletin board where children can put smiley faces next to pictures of each other and staff

Participate in forums, conferences, and check internet info.

Keep a journal which will allow you to be more reflective about your emotional self.

The term parent engagement can be used interchangeably with:

• Family support•Parent encouragement

•Parent engagement•Parent involvement•Shared leadership

What is Parent Engagement?

•It improves services for families•It provides opportunities for

parents to help programs•It helps parents feel like they can

impact what happens in their child’s life

• Families can be role models for other families

• Providers can meet kid’s needs better

• Parents know their kids best!!!!

Why do we need Parent Engagement?

•We have a better relationship with parents

• Increases our understanding of parents and their kids

• Improves quality of programs• Community learns about and respects

our program

Benefits of Parent Engagement for Centers

•They get to meet other families• Parents learn how to deal with their

kids in a positive way• Makes things better for their families

• Families feel like they belong

Benefits of Parent Engagement for Parents

• Answer: Their Parents!!!• Realization: No system, state, or center

can care for kids the way their parents do!!!

Who is best suited to raise healthy, protected, well developed children?

KEY PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS

Mental health consultationSocial emotional/conflict resolution

curriculumNo expulsionsFathers welcomeConsistent staff communicationParent leadership

ALIGNING RESULTS FOR FAMILIES

FAMILIES TOOK LEADERSHIP

• “at risk” families all families

• risk factors protective factors/buffers to toxic stress

• prevention promoting strong families and healthy development

Parental Resilience = Be strong and and flexible

Social Connections = Parents need friends

Knowledge of Parenting = Being a great parent is part natural and part learned

Concrete Support = We all need help sometimes

Social and emotional development for children = Help your children communicate and give them the love and respect they need

COMMUNITY CAFES - WASHINGTON

• Parental Resilience = Courage

• Social Connections = Community

• Knowledge of Parenting = Health

• Concrete Support = Freedom

• Children’s Social and Emotional Development = Compassion

FEDERAL PARTNERSAdministration for Children, Youth and Families: Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

Administration on Children and Families, Office of Child Care and Office of Head Start

Maternal and Child Health Bureau (ECCS)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), local Project Launch sites

Department of Defense, New Parents Program and Family Advocacy Program

http://www.qic-ec.org/

http://www.childwelfare.gov/

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES NATIONAL NETWORK

LEVERS FOR IMPLEMENTING AND SUSTAINING STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

• Integration into policies and systems

•Professional development

•Real parent partnerships

NEW “FAMILY VALUES”

Recognition of importance of familiesDiminishing stigma and labelingAcknowledging diversity among familiesReducing the distance between

professionals and familiesPartnerships among services and between

services and people are essentialEveryone has a role and can play it!

www.strengtheningfamilies.net

Strengthening FamiliesThe Challenge

Each year nearly 1,000,000 children are confirmed victims of neglect and abuse.

Children ages birth to1 year have the highest rates of child maltreatment; 84% of victims are less than one week old

Children ages 1-3 have the 2nd highest rate of victimization

Parenting young children is especially challenging and a critical time period where information, education, resources and support can make a difference

92

Strengthening FamiliesWhat is it?A new approach to CAN

prevention that is grounded in research

A framework for family support that has specificity and the flexibility to be applied across disciplines

A structure for integrating family strengthening into existing service settings

Smart Start Mary 7, 2009 Slide provided by the Center for the Study of Social Policy 93

Strengthening FamiliesBackground

Strengthening Families ModelEarly care and education centers are core to the Strengthening Families model and the beginning point for nationwide implementation.

Access to a large number of young children and their families

Can impact families before abuse or neglect ever occurs

Already addressing Protective Factors to some degree

Safe and trusting atmosphere for parents

94

Strengthening FamiliesLooking ForwardHowever, early education programs represent

just the beginning. In order to end child abuse and neglect, it is also necessary to:

Integrate protective factors into all services for families (adult education, family supports, child welfare, etc.).

Ensure that public policy and funding integrates the protective factors and supports families.

Grow public awareness so everyone can support families.

UW_Template_022704 95

Strengthening FamiliesThe 5 Protective Factors

Promote the Protective Factors:

•Parental Resilience

•Social connections

•Knowledge of parenting and child development

•Concrete support in times of need

•Social and emotional development

Smart Start Mary 7, 2009 96

Programs and services that:

• Facilitate friendships and

mutual support

• Strengthen parenting

• Respond to family crises

• Link families to services

and opportunities

• Value and support

Parents

• Facilitate children’s social

and emotional development

• Observe and respond to early warning signs of child abuse or neglect

Which . . .

Prevents Child Abuse and Neglect

Strengthening FamiliesPutting the 5PF into Practice

Is SF aligned to your organization’s mission?

If so, around which of the 5 protective factors are you already doing work? Discuss the work.How can you tell if your agency’s mission/activities are aligned with the protective factors?


Strengthening FamiliesParent Education and Engagement ToolsNurturing Parenting

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program)

Parent Services ProjectParent Leadership InstitutesStronger Together curriculum (for EC field)

Parent Cafes

Community CafesCommunity Cafes Parent hosted Guided conversations based on needs and interests of community Builds community wisdom and parent voice


Strengthening FamiliesParent Education and Engagement ToolCommunity Café

topics5 protective factors

AKA the 5 inalienable rights of every child

Leadership development

Community partnership


Community Café partners

• Early learning centers

• Schools

• Faith-based organizations

• Family and social service

programs

Strengthening FamiliesPutting it into PracticeIdentify one area in which your

organization could be doing more intentional work to instill the protective factors even in today’s environment of constrained resources.


A strengths-based, Protective Factors approach

All families have strengths All families need support Focus on Protective

Factors that all families need

for your kind attentionand active participation!

www.strengtheningfamilies.net

Thank You

http://www.strengtheningfamilies.net/

Documents

Strengthening Families An Effective Approach to Supporting Families