Strengthening Families Rhode Island is a program of the National Center for the Study of Social Policy's Strengthening Families Through Early Care and Education Initiative - an evidence-based approach seeking to strengthen the social and emotional development of children and to create a child abuse and neglect prevention framework that shifts the focus of child abuse prevention efforts from family risks and deficits to family strengths and resiliency. The National Center for the Study of Social Policy's research found that helping families build and enhance the 5 "Protective Factors" within the family unit will work as a buffer, helping parents who might otherwise be at risk of abusing or neglecting their children, allowing them to parent effectively even under stress.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact
Kim Ash at (401) 728-7920 or kash@preventchildabuse-ri.org.
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The 5 Protective Factors:
Parent resilience
Social connections
Knowledge of parenting & child development
Concrete support in times of need
Social & emotional competence of children
Why are the protective factors important?
Protective factors strengthen all families not just at risk families.
Working just based on risk sets up a relationship with families dominated by stigma and a sense of failure.
Programs develop a partnership with parents that encourage them to seek out program staff if they are in need of extra support.
Protective factors help families build and draw on their natural support network which will be critical to their long-term success.
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Creating a mutually supportive team environment one child at a time.
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