Most of the time the joys of being a parent outweigh the frustrations. When the challenges of parenting accumulate and become overwhelming, parental stress can occur. According to the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), even though all parents experience stress, by increasing parental resilience, parents can effectively manage stressful situations and help ensure positive outcomes for their…
Supporting young children to develop social-emotional skills is found to have a profound effect on their health and development in early life and as adults. Social-emotional competence, which includes self regulation, executive functioning, emotional and impulse control, and social and communication skills, influences children’s cognitive and language development, academic achievement, and mental health (CSSP, n.d.). Access the Knowledge to Action…
When parents have a strong understanding of how their children will grow and develop over time and are able to implement positive parenting practices to help support their child’s development, they are more equipped to respond effectively to their children’s needs. Current research emphasizes that a parent’s ability to consistently meet a child’s needs at each stage of development is…
The Protective Factors Framework is considered a research-based approach to building parental resilience, social connections, concrete support, knowledge of parenting and child development as well as social and emotional competence of children, so the likelihood of child abuse and neglect diminishes (CSSP, 2018). However, families served by Family Strengthening Organizations often have vastly different needs and professionals are better able…
Rooted in the legacy of the settlement houses of the 1800s that served and advocated for immigrants and those living in poverty, Family Resource Centers (FRCs) have emerged as leaders in supporting families and communities in the last few decades (Sherman & McQuaid, 2017). Though FRCs are as diverse as the people they serve, they share common characteristics as centrally…
When you consider human nature, why do you believe people think, feel, behave, and interact the way they do? Do all humans share common responses, or are we unique in how we operate in the world? We often have our own explanations based on our individual experiences, circumstances, and cultural contexts. The tools we use to come to an understanding…
In partnership with the YMCA of San Diego, we are proud to have developed the 2020 Child, Family & Community Wellness: Prevention Landscape Scan. The Landscape Scan is a meta-analysis of San Diego County priority basic needs, COVID-19 challenges, child maltreatment rates, and legislation. The Landscape Scan is funded by a 5-year grant from the federal Children’s Bureau, which was…
Why do some individuals experience more positive health outcomes than others? The answer lies not only in genetics, personal choices, or luck, but rather a complex mix of factors within the circumstances of a person’s life. These factors, termed “social determinants of health (SDOH)” are defined as “conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play,…