Extended Learning
Extended Learning

Strengthening Families & The Protective Factors Framework

Virtual Lab School Management Child Abuse: Identification & Reporting Lesson 1 Apply Strengthening Families & The Protective Factors Framework
Extended Learning
WWW.VIRTUALLABSCHOOL.ORG
ACTIVITY ID: 28741
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Strengthening Families™ is a research-informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. From the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), it is based on engaging families, programs, and communities in building key protective factors. Protective factors are characteristics or strengths of individuals, families, or communities that act to mitigate risks and promote positive well-being and healthy development. Most often, we see them as attributes that help families to successfully navigate difficult situations. CSSP's Protective Factors Framework offers an organized set of strengths-based ideas and actions that are used to guide programs, services, supports, and interventions aimed at preventing child maltreatment and promoting healthy outcomes.

Everyday Actions that Help Build Protective Factors

  1. Parental Resilience

    Managing stress and functioning well when faced with challenges, adversity and trauma.

     
    • Demonstrate that families are valued
    • Honor each family's background, history, language, and approach to parenting
    • Encourage parents to manage stress effectively
    • Support parents as decision-makers and help build decision making and leadership skills
    • Help parents understand how to support their child during stressful times

  2. Social Connections

    Understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development.

     
    • Help families build, sustain, and use social connections
    • Create a supportive environment
    • Facilitate networking and support around parenting and other issues
    • Promote engagement in the community and participation in program activities

  3. Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

    Positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support.

     
    • Model developmentally appropriate interactions and guidance strategies
    • Provide information and resources on parenting and child development
    • Encourage exploration of parenting issues or concerns
    • Provide opportunities to try out new parenting strategies
    • Address parenting issues from a strength-based perspective

  4. Concrete Supports in Times of Need

    Access to concrete support and services that address a family’s needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges.

     
    • Respond immediately when a family is in crisis
    • Provide information and connections to other services in the community
    • Help families to develop skills and tools they need to identify their needs and connect to supports

  5. Social and Emotional Competence of Children

    Family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and maintain relationships.

     
    • Help parents foster their child's social emotional development
    • Model nurturing support and interactions
    • Include social emotional learning activities in curriculum
    • Help children develop a positive sense of self
    • Respond proactively when social or emotional development needs supports

Learn more at strengtheningfamilies.net. Source: This activity was adapted from https://cssp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/About-Strengthening-Families.pdf