California Parenting Institute Strengthening Families by Building Protective Factors MAY 2011 Grace Harris, Director of Programs (707) x103 “Our mission is to treat and prevent child abuse by nurturing and advocating for the health of children, parents and families.”

. Strengthening Families is focused on what’s strong, not what’s wrong

Strengthening Families The Heart of the Approach Levers for Change Parent Partnerships Illinois and Washington have adapted anapproach to organize conversations with parents that focus on building protective factors. Kansas launched a research initiative to better understand how parents access support. Professional Development Alaska is integrated social work and early childhood coursework. Missouri and Arkansas are adapting child care resource and referral contracts to provide incentives for offering training on the protective factors. Policies and Systems Massachusetts has aligned $15 million in contracts from three separate funding sources around building protective factors. Georgia is also considering something similar with child care licensing procedures.

Promoting the Five Protective Factors: For each protective factor, the focus is on helping parents identify and build on their own strengths and on empowering them to identify the best strategies to help them enhance their parenting capacity. This gives the provider the opportunity to work in partnership with the parents and family in order to explore opportunities for growth and support.

Protective FactorDefined Parental ResilienceThe ability to cope and bounce back form all kinds of challenges Social ConnectionsFriends, family, neighbors, and other members of a community who provide emotional support and concrete assistance to parents Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development Accurate information about raising young children and appropriate expectations for their behavior Concrete Support in Times of Need Financial security to cover day-to-day expenses and unexpected costs that come up from time to time, access to formal supports like TANF and Medicaid, and informal support form social networks Social and Emotional Competence of Children A child’s ability to interact positively with others and communicate his or her emotions effectively

Strengthening Families Guiding Principles All families have strengths All families need support The Protective Factors support in the prevention of child abuse

Shift focus from family support to family strengthening Protective Factors become core of our community’s strategies Implications

Putting it into practice.... Staff and families work together in relationships based on equality and respect. Staff enhance families’ capacity to support the growth and development of all family members – adults, youth, and children. Families are resources to their own members, to other families, to programs, and to communities. Programs affirm and strengthen families’ cultural, racial, and linguistic identities and enhance their ability to function in a multicultural society. Programs are embedded in communities and contribute to the community-building process.

Putting it into Practice – continued Programs are flexible and continually responsive to emerging family and community issues. Principles of family support are modeled in all program activities, including planning, governance, and administration. Programs advocate with families for services and systems that are fair, responsive, and accountable to the families served. Practitioners work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources to support family development.

Provide informal space for parents to “hang out” Blend social and parent education activities How you can help parents develop social connections Organize structured activities that bring parents together, including fathers Reach out to isolated parents

Teach social and emotional skills Help parents appreciate their children’s strengths Work with parents, children, and professionals to address challenging behaviors How you can promote social-emotional competence in children

Concrete Support in Times of Need Food, shelter, clothing Job training Health Education Substance Abuse Mental Health Domestic Violence Specialized Services for Children

Model/teach healthy coping skills Show parents:  They are valued  Staff is concerned about them  Help is available Build trusting relationships Provide extra support for those parents who need it How you can help build parental resilience

Provide “just in time” parent education Be a role model Arrange formal parent education activities Partner with parent education agencies Build trust and mutual respect Blend education with social events Share resources How you can enhance parents’ knowledge of parenting