Child Care Providers Help Strengthen Families

We have been talking a great deal about The Five Protective Factors lately. The Five Protective factors are the foundation of the Strengthening Families approach. The great thing about the Strengthening Families approach is that it promotes optimal development for all children. So rather than single out families we infer are at a higher risk for abuse and/or neglect, we approach all families in the same manner. The Strengthening Families approach begins by acknowledging all families have strengths and all families need support. This approach is based upon evidence that families in which the Five Protective Families are present and robust, are less likely to engage in abusive or neglectful behaviors. 

The Five Protective Factors:

1 Parents are resilient in stressful life situations. Parents have a positive attitude, creatively solve problems and are able to address life's challenges without directing their frustration at their children.

2 Parents have social connections which provide them emotional support, encouragement, and assistance in the daily challenges of raising a family.

3 Parents understand how children develop. Parents have realistic expectations of what their children are capable of and have knowledge of positive guidance techniques.

4 Parents have access to resources. Parents need to be connected to resources such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, child care, health care and mental health care.

5 Parents have a nurturing relationship with their children and have developed caring bonds. Children can trust their parents will provide what they need to thrive- including love, acceptance, positive guidance, and protection.

Child care providers are in the perfect position to bolster the Five Protective Factors in the families of the children they care for because 

• You see the parents or family members on a daily basis. 
• As consumers, parents have chosen them to meet the needs of their children while they are in your care. Parents are in an amendable position to trust your input, suggestions and feedback. 
• Additionally, establishing a close relationship with parents not only supports the Five Protective Factors, it also creates a trusting environment between both parties, offering positive environments for problem solving as issues arise. 

Examples of strategies which strengthen the five protective factors:

• Interacting daily with each parent in a way that fits- verbal updates, daily activity log, emailing photos, etc. 
• Recognize parents growth and efforts and points of view.
• Look for ways to connect to isolated families (especially if children arrive and depart on bus) such as calling them at home with updates. 
• Offer opportunities for parents to connect with each other. 
• Explaining the guidance techniques you model. 
• Helping children name their feelings and problem solve using words.
• Encourage parents to share information they have about community resources.

Look for strengths

The bottom line: a strong, intimate and trusting relationship with parents will strengthen the families of the children in your care and make tough issues and conversations much easier and more constructive. 

For a checklist of strategies for each of the five areas download from 

the Center for the Study of Social Policy.....

Strengthening Families: A Guidebook for Early Childhood Programs

Strengthening Families: Family Child Care Provider's Self-Assessment