Free To GrowFree To Grow Healthy Child Development through Strengthening

Families and their Communities

PrinciplesPrinciples

• Changing known risk and protective factors will Changing known risk and protective factors will lead to decreases in risks for later substance use lead to decreases in risks for later substance use and abuse and other high-risk behaviors.and abuse and other high-risk behaviors.

• The primary strategy for prevention in the The primary strategy for prevention in the preschool years is to strengthen the young child’s preschool years is to strengthen the young child’s immediate environment. Therefore, the main immediate environment. Therefore, the main targets for intervention are the family and targets for intervention are the family and neighborhood, neighborhood, not the child.not the child.

PrinciplesPrinciples

• Families will be better able to nurture and protect Families will be better able to nurture and protect their children if they have a wide range of their children if they have a wide range of supports.supports.

• Strengthened and supported families will be more Strengthened and supported families will be more likely to resist the abuse of alcohol and use of likely to resist the abuse of alcohol and use of other drugs.other drugs.

PrinciplesPrinciples

• A more stable and protective living environment A more stable and protective living environment in safer, less chaotic neighborhoods will help in safer, less chaotic neighborhoods will help reduce the impact of substance abuse and other reduce the impact of substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors on young children.high-risk behaviors on young children.

Free to Grow:Healthy Child Development through Strengthening

Families and their Communities

Risk FactorsCommunity• Crime and Violence

• Blight

• Alcohol and Drug Availability

• Neighborhood Social Isolation

Family• Substance Abuse

• Child Abuse

• Domestic Violence

• Lack of Parenting Skills

Protective FactorsCommunity• Safe Streets• Adequate and Affordable Housing• Low Levels of Alcohol and Drug

Availability• Organized Neighborhoods

Family• Family Stability and Cohesiveness• Adequate Family Income• Parents Who Promote Learning• Close, Stable Relationship with

Parents and Other Adults

Domains of Intervention

Modification of the Physical Environment

Development of Social Capital

Development of Human Capital

• Blight

• Housing

• Crime and Safety

• Social Isolation

• Parent Support

• Crime and Safety

• Availability of Social Services

• Substance Abuse Treatment

• Domestic Violence Service

• Child Abuse and Neglect Services

Examples of Partner Organizations, Groups and Individuals Addressing these Issues

Modification of the Physical Environment

Development of Social Capital

Development of Human Capital

• Blight

• Housing

• Crime and Safety

• Social Isolation

• Parent Support

• Crime and Safety

• Availability of Social Services

• Substance Abuse Treatment

• Domestic Violence Service

• Child Abuse and Neglect

•Services

• Police

• Code Enforcement

• Residents

• Neighborhood Groups

• Family Resource Centers

• Police

• Schools

• Head Start

• Dept. Social Services

• Treatment Providers

• Schools

Examples of Free to Grow StrategiesModification of Physical Environment

Modification of the Physical Environment

• Blight

• Housing

• Crime and Safety

• Police

• Code Enforcement

• Residents

• Neighborhood Revitalization

• Community Assessment (including property assessment)

• Community Awareness

• Community Action (support for increased code enforcement and policing)

Examples of Free to Grow StrategiesDevelopment of Social Capital

• Social Isolation

• Parent Support

• Crime and Safety

• Neighborhood Groups

• Family Resource Centers

• Police

Development of Social Capital

•Leadership Development• Local Action Groups (block watch, neighborhood assns, etc)• Family Support and Parent Education

Examples Free to Grow StrategiesDevelopment of Human Capital

• Availability of Social Services

• Substance Abuse Treatment

• Domestic Violence Service

• Child Abuse and Neglect

•Social Services

• Head Start

• Dept. Social Services

• Treatment Providers

Development of Human Capital

• Family Assessment• Case Management• SA & MH Treatment

Moving to an Integrated Family Community Strategy – Concurrent Action

in all Three Domains

Modification of the Physical Environment

Development of Social Capital

Community Partners Implementing Free to

Grow Strategies

Development of Human Capital

The Faces of Free to The Faces of Free to GrowGrow

Improving the Physical Improving the Physical EnvironmentEnvironment

Residents helping residents in a neighborhood clean up

Code Enforcement and Sheriff partnering to improve

housing conditions

Building Social CapitalBuilding Social Capital

Developing a block watch

Family support groups

Building Human Building Human CapitalCapital

Family Assessment

Improved family interaction