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…
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,…
Family Strengthening has a dual role of both supporting families and also improving the conditions in which they live. While there are programs and practices available to address individual and family level resilience, professionals, leaders, and community change agents need tools to address the adverse community environments, systems barriers, and inequities that underlie child and family trauma. This Building Community…
Initiating and achieving a sustainable mindset and lifestyle of self-care, empathy, and self-compassion is an important commitment for all family strengthening practitioners. It is not only the responsibility of an individual employee, but also of the supervisors and administrators that support an organization. Self – care is an important set of intentions necessary to mitigate possible stress and challenges in…
Fathers who are engaged and present make a real difference in their children’s lives. Children who are raised by involved fathers are “60% less likely to be suspended or expelled from school, 2x as likely to go to college and find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, and 80% less likely to spend…