Strengthening Families, Centers, and Programs at the State and Community Levels

1. Strengthening Families, Centers, and Programs at the State and Community Levels 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

2. Strengthening Families has inspired a new national approach to families that is: Available where families already go, building on what programs and services already do Focused on development and growth, not only on identified problems Delivered through new, powerful partnerships that continue to push effective collaboration forward

3. Is systematic Is national Reaches millions of children Has impact long before abuse or neglect occurs Promotes optimal development for all children Strengthening Families began as a search for a new approach to child abuse prevention that:

4. Daily contact with parents and children Uniquely intimate relationships with families A universal approach of positive encouragement for families An early warning and response system to the first signs of trouble Go where many children already are: in early care and education programs

5. quality early care and education protective factors Do ECE programs help families as well as children? CAN prevention and optimal development ?? ?? ?? ?? ??

6. What does research tell us about what is RIGHT with families? What family characteristics promote children’s healthy development—and are linked directly to a reduction in child abuse and neglect, according to current research? Just the facts…a strengths approach

7. the protective factors framework Parental Resilience Social Connections Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development Concrete Support in Times of Need Social and Emotional Development

8. parental resilience Psychological health; parents feel supported and able to solve problems; can develop trusting relationships with others and reach out for help Parents who did not have positive childhood experiences or who are in troubling circumstances need extra support and trusting relationships

9. social connections Relationships with extended family, friends, co-workers, other parents with children similar ages Community norms are developed through social connections Mutual assistance networks: child care, emotional support, concrete help

10. knowledge of parenting and child development Basic information about how children develop Basic techniques of developmentally appropriate discipline Alternatives to parenting behaviors experienced as a child Help with challenging behaviors

11. concrete supports Response to a crisis: food, clothing, shelter Assistance with daily needs: health care, job opportunities, transportation, education Services for parents: mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse Specialized services for children

12. social and emotional development Normal development (like using language to express needs and feelings) creates more positive parent-child interactions Challenging behaviors, traumatic experiences or development that is not on track require extra adult attention A Surprise: What learning in a classroom does for families back at home

13. Learning network of exemplary programs

14. excellent early childhood programs are already building protective factors every day, but often do not recognize their impact on families

15. small but significant changes in early childhood practice – or any kind of program that reaches families -- could produce huge results in preventing child abuse and neglect for our youngest children

16. the final evidence: a gold standard study Arthur Reynolds, University of Wisconsin Longitudinal study of children and families in a program with similar elements to those identified by CSSP compared with others who did not participate Results: 52% reduction in substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect by age 17

17. Program Strategies to build Protective Factors protective factors Facilitate Friendships & Mutual Support Parental Resilience Strengthen Parenting Social Connections CAN prevention and optimal development Respond to Family Crises Link Families to Services & Opportunities Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development Value & Support Parents Concrete Supports Facilitate Children’s Social & Emotional Development Social and Emotional Development Observe & Respond to Early Warning Signs of CAN

18. http://www.strengtheningfamilies.net Contact: Kate Stepletonkate.stepleton@cssp.org773-857-3653 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

19. national impact National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds national learning network: 20+ states NAEYC accreditation changes: impact on 971,000 children in 11,353 centers Curriculum changes -- Parents as Teachers : 320,000 children Healthy Families America: 50,000 families Federal Office of Child Abuse and Neglect: 2007 Community Resource Guides onProtective Factors CDC Violence Prevention Branch, Maternal and Child Health (ECCS), Child Care Bureau

20. national partner organizations Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with Casey Family Programs, Annie E. Casey, A.L.. Mailman, Arthur Blank

21. impact of statewide implementation (estimate 2008) Total Centers: 34,614 Total Children 0-5 in these centers: 2,873,966

22. levers for change Parent Partnerships Infrastructure and Policy Changes Professional Development Early Childhood-Child Welfare Linkages Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning

23. parent partnerships Value and support family participation in program development and agency decision making Create a powerful pool of family leaders by linking with parent groups and organizations Offer training and coaching for families to take leadership roles and for agencies to use their participation effectively

24. infrastructure and policy changes Use a common framework, language, and results definition for work with families in: Licensing requirements Quality Rating and Reimbursement Scales Accreditation and credential requirements Child and Family Service Reviews MOUs and other agreements

25. professional development Integrate common language of protective factors into curricula for CDAs, BAs, and AAs Teach protective factors in In-Service Trainings (e.g. CCR&Rs) Teach and use protective factors in individual program training, supervision, and coaching Develop and use cross-trainings among agencies and disciplines

26. child welfare-early childhood linkages Enroll children in foster care in quality early childhood programs Focus practice and assessment on developmental needs, trauma, and mental health needs for the youngest children Develop cross training for caseworkers, teachers, and foster families Create alternative CAN reporting protocols and differential responses, using new partners

27. early childhood comprehensive systems planning Build family support into Pre-K efforts Define family support results through Protective Factors Agree on strategies for families to be partners in all aspects of work Link key services more effectively, including mental health, family support, medical homes, early intervention and crisis services.

28. … on the horizonChanges to mandatory reporting trainingPerformance standards across agencies, based on common protective factors, supported by practice changes and professional developmentProtective Factors for families across the age range of children for schools and youth programsNew evaluation strategies based on resilience

29. the “new normal” A new way of thinking about engaging families : go where they already are A new way of improving everyday practice: make small but significant changes to enhance what programs already do A new way of combining all our efforts to achieve better results: find and use the levers for change in what agencies already do

30. http://www.strengtheningfamilies.net Contact: Kate Stepletonkate.stepleton@cssp.org773-857-3653 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