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Strengthening Families

The 5 protective factors:

  • Parental Resilience– Being strong and flexible.  When families model resiliency, it teaches their children how to cope when there are times of stress.

How do parents take care of themselves?  What makes them feel strong?

  • Social Connections– Support from family, friends and neighbors. When families have meaningful, trusting relationships, it fosters a sense of belonging.

What do their friendships look like? How supportive are their families and neighbors?  What does their “circle of support” look like?

  • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development– Receiving developmental knowledge to understand what their child needs to thrive.  When families welcome you into their home, they are building their knowledge.

What parts of parenting come natural to them?  What would they like to learn?

  • Concrete Support in Times of Need- Help from the community to be healthy and safe.  When family’s needs are met, they are better able to support their children’s well-being as well as their own.

How do they feel about asking for help?  What issues need to be addressed?

  • Social and Emotional Competence of Children– Helping children learn to get along with others and manage their emotions.  When families provide social and emotional support, they contribute to their child’s sense of resiliency.

How do they show their emotions? How are they helping their child communicate their feelings?

These protective factors are weaved throughout the curriculum in many places including (but not limited to):

  • Parent Educator Resource – The Strengthening Families Approach
  • Toolkit Card – Strengthening Families Protective Factors
  • Parent Handout – Circles of Support

By integrating these 5 Protective Factors in your work with families, you are using evidence-based practices to build on the strengths of families and communities. Through your responsiveness they will feel seen, heard, and supported.  Consider what you can start or continue today to strengthen families by incorporating these protective factors into each visit and group connection.

To dive deeper, join the roundtable discussion on April 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CDT.

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