Implementing Strengthening Families

Leadership Team Discussion

C E N T E R F O R T H E S T U D Y O F S O C I A L P O L I C Y

Strengthening Families began as a search for a new approach to child abuse prevention that:

Is systematic

Is national

Reaches large numbers of children

Has impact long before abuse or neglect occurs

Promotes optimal development for all children

Strengthening Families has inspired an approach to work with children and families that is:

Universally available, not targeted by risk

Focused on development and growth, not only on identified

problems

Delivered through new, powerful partners not typically identified as CAN prevention or

family support agents

new partners, existing systems

The initial research and tools supporting Strengthening Families were designed for the early care and education field

but during a 7-year state pilot…

States across the country have proven that the Protective Factors are a powerful framework for many child- and family-serving fields – it helps them do their own work AND work together with a common language

The Research Process

Step 1: Search the evidence to find out what factors really reduce child abuse and neglect

Step 2: Explore the connection between factors that prevent child abuse and neglect and what quality early childhood programs do to build them

Step 3: Identify programs that build the factors and learn how they do it

Step 4: Learn about policy and practice changes needed to infuse the model statewide through a partnership with 7 pilot states

Becoming a National Movement• 26 states are members of the Strengthening Families

National Network

• The initiative is being supported by a number of national organizations

• The model is being integrated into federal child abuse and neglect prevention strategies through OCAN

• More funders are supporting the approach

Brownsville, TX

High Point, NC

Ohio

Virginia

Other SF States

United Way Grantees

Washington State

Anchorage, AK

San Antonio, TX

Atlanta, GA

Los Angeles, CA

State Leadership Teams: What Generally Works• Membership includes but isn’t limited to key ECE

and CW leadership

• Parent Organizations are represented and parent representatives sit on the leadership team

• All members are also engaged in working groups.

• Membership is fluid

• Members are invited to use SFI as a vehicle for achieving other compatible goals

levers for change

Parent Partnerships

Family-Strengthening Child Welfare Practice

Infrastructure and Policy Changes

Early Childhood Systems Integration

Professional Development

States have worked in these areas to grow Strengthening Families initiatives and build sustainability:

strategies

protective factors

CAN prevention and optimal development

state and national strategies

parental resilience

knowledge of parenting and child development

social connections

concrete supports in times of need

social and emotional competence of children

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 abuse or neglect

“Levers for Change”

Parent Partnerships

Family-Strengthening Child Welfare Practice

Infrastructure Changes

Early Childhood Systems Integration

Professional Development

Shifts in:

•Policy

•Resources

•Cross-Systems Relationships

•Support Structures

To support program implementation