Strengthening Families Newsletter
October, 2008 Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention (go) 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced (go) Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families (go) States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children (go) The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads (go)
Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention
As part of growing efforts to prevent the abuse and neglect of very young children before it occurs, the Children’s Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded $9.7 million to the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) for the development of the National Quality Improvement Center (QIC) on Preventing of the Abuse and Neglect of Infants and Young Children. CSSP is partnering with two organizations, the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds and ZERO TO THREE, and collaborating with the Children’s Bureau in the development and implementation of the QIC. The QIC is launched as an overwhelming majority of child abuse and neglect cases involve children under the age of five. The children of parents with HIV/AIDS or substance abuse issues face an especially high risk of maltreatment. Recent research indicates that the effects of child abuse and neglect (CAN) on these very young children can be devastating, impacting their healthy development and dramatically reducing their chances for success in adulthood.
THE QIC AT A GLANCE
• Cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau • $9.7 Million over 5 years • CSSP is partnering with the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds and ZERO TO THREE • Will fund innovative approaches to CAN prevention research
partners have agreed that the QIC should address child maltreatment at individual, family, community, and policy levels.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IS A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY 1575 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 500 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-371-1565 | WWW.CSSP.ORG
Fundamental to this work will be a focus on building conditions or qualities – known as Protective Factors – that can reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect when families have them. CSSP and its two partner organizations in the QIC, the National Alliance of Children’s Trust “Preventing child abuse and neglect for and Prevention Funds and ZERO TO the youngest children begins with THREE, have been working closely with strengthening families,” says Judy Langchild welfare and early childhood practiford, Senior Fellow at CSSP. “So much of tioners across the country embedding a a child’s development takes place in the Protective Factors approach to work with earliest years of life, and that development children and families into practice. can be derailed if abuse and neglect are factors. We need to think creatively about what people can do to support parents in The work of the QIC is divided into two promoting optimal development for their phases: planning and research; and children and building family strengths that awarding grants to support and evaluate innovative abuse and neglect prevention we know reduce abuse and neglect.” programs and studies. A distinguished, multidisciplinary panel of scholars, stateOver the five-year grant period, the QIC level officials, advocates, parent represenwill advance innovative approaches to tatives, and practitioners will serve as a CAN prevention research and will support National Advisory Committee to the QIC, several projects that implement and evaludirecting the development of the new ate these approaches. Some focus will be Center. Dr. Charlyn Harper Browne has on the children of parents with HIV/AIDS been named Project Director of the QIC. or substance abuse issues. CSSP and its
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Strengthening Families Newsletter
October, 2008 Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention (go) 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced (go) Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families (go) States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children (go) The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads (go)
2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced
October 28-29, 2009
Atlanta, Georgia
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Preceded by a gathering and celebration of parents and families
October 27, 2009
In 2007, the first Strengthening Families Leadership Summit gathered over 300 members of state teams working to implement a new, Protective Factors approach to work with children and families. Attendees left the gathering feeling energized, inspired, and armed with new knowledge about Strengthening Families. In the two years since the 2007 Summit, Strengthening Families has gained significant momentum. More than half of all states are members of the Strengthening Families National Network, a learning community dedicated to sharing innovative strategies for infusing a Protective Factors approach into child– and family– focused work. Even more states have major activities related to Strengthening Families and building Protective Factors with families. Many national organizations are embedding Strengthening Families concepts into their work, and several federal agencies have become partners in this endeavor as well. CSSP’s Strengthening Families team consistently hears that the 2007 Summit was where the groundwork was laid for the impressive work that followed. “With our state team, I can see people who were previously not fully committed, now infused with energy and excitement about Strengthening Families!” reflected one attendee after participating. Another noted, “This was one of the best Conferences/Summits I have ever attended— Thank you!” CSSP is happy to announce that the next nationwide Strengthening Families Leadership Summit will take place in Atlanta, Georgia on October 28th and 29th. In partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute, who will be holding their annual meeting during the days prior to the 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit, CSSP will convene a gathering of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other caregivers of young children on October 27th. The day will be designed to honor the important role that all types of parents play in the lives of young children and to elevate the voice of parents in strengthening families and communities. To make sure that you receive the most current information about the 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit—including registration links and important dates, visit www.strengtheningfamilies.net and add your e-mail address to our mailing list. The 2009 Summit and gathering of parents are sure to be exciting, informational days to push Strengthening Families ahead in the years to come.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IS A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY 1575 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 500 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-371-1565 | WWW.CSSP.ORG
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Strengthening Families Newsletter
October, 2008 Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention (go) 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced (go) Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families (go) States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children (go) The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads (go)
Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families
Each state in the Strengthening Families National Network (SFNN) is home to diverse families,, spanning race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. As a result, members of the SFNN across the country have puzzled over how to share Strengthening Families knowledge and encourage strategies that build Protective Factors in culturally appropriate, resonant ways. viewing information on traditional values and practices, the state team will develop culturally appropriate strategies to support the prevention of maltreatment of Alaska Native children.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IS A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY 1575 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 500 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-371-1565 | WWW.CSSP.ORG
Shirley Pittz, the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems and Strengthening Families Coordinator in Alaska’s Office of Children’s Services (OCS) says, “This project is This fall, a multidisciplinary group of part- directly related to and will inform the onners in Alaska launched a project to exgoing work of the Strengthening Families plore how the Protective Factors and Program, as well as the Early Childhood other Strengthening Families strategies Comprehensive Systems Project. It is an might align with tribal values in Alaska extension of that work. Consequently Native communities. This work is part of a committing time to this project which will broader, statewide strategy for the prefurther the goals of the Strengthening vention of child abuse and neglect in fami- Families Leadership Team is not only suplies with very young children. ported, but encouraged. As the information generated from this projected is emThe need for new prevention strategies to bedded in the Strengthening Families materials, outreach, goals, training, etc., it support Alaska Native families and the supports sustainability of the work.” families of very young children is clear. Approximately 60% of the children in state custody are Alaska Native1, while Alaska Other members of the team that will parNatives comprise only 20.4% of the total ticipate in the PREVENT Institute around child population of the state2. 35% of all this work include Tammy Sandoval, Direcprotective service reports involve children tor of OCS, Panu Lucier, Executive Direcage five and younger3. tor of the Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT), Margaret Volz, an ACT Trustee, and Lucille The research behind Strengthening Fami- Johnson, the Director of Social Services for the Bristol Bay Native Association. lies indicates that five Protective Factors reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect in all families. The strategies that Alaska’s team argues that CAN prevention build Protective Factors such as informaefforts are often scattered and unsystemtion about parenting, family strengths, and atic, and that they fail to consider tradicommunity responsibilities are much more tional ways of raising children and supeffective when they resonate deeply with porting families in Alaska Native commua community’s existing values and tradinities. By engaging the tribal communitions. ties in dialog about developing culturally appropriate, strategies for preventing Alaska’s project, which has been accepted child maltreatment from the beginning, the state team hopes to influence not only for the 2008 PREVENT Institute, focuses ground-level practice in child welfare and on using culturally appropriate, effective early childhood, but also systems and strategies for preventing child maltreatment to build the research-based Protec- policies that directly affect Native groups through creating new, respectful relationtive Factors. By engaging Alaska Native community members through community ships between child welfare and tribal leaders. meetings and focus groups, and by re1. ORCA Data System, Office of Children’s Services, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services 2. Research and Analysis Section, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development 3. ORCA Data System, Office of Children’s Services, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
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Strengthening Families Newsletter
October, 2008 Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention (go) 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced (go) Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families (go) States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children (go) The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads (go)
States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children
From the beginning, Strengthening Families was grounded in the common-sense notion – supported by research -- that building Protective Factors in families could decrease the likelihood of child abuse or neglect. New evidence and experience have shown that Protective Factors and Strengthening Families concepts are also useful beyond prevention of child maltreatment. In child welfare work,, using a Protective Factors framework and partnering with early care and education (ECE) programs can help child welfare workers understand and address the urgent developmental needs of the youngest children involved in the system. Several Strengthening Families National Network states are using Strengthening Families strategies to support the safety, permanence, and well-being of children involved in child welfare. sional development opportunities and their subsequent follow-up sessions give members of both fields chances to build and reinforce connections between the systems. New Jersey trained Child Care Resource and Referral trainers to promote stronger linkages between early care and education programs and their local child welfare departments at a week-long Strengthening Families Institute. Trainers have worked with ECE programs in each of the state’s counties to encourage crosstrainings for ECE and child welfare workers, as well as joint decision-making when it is applicable. Strengthening Families Oklahoma is supporting ECE programs in 6 pilot communities around intentionally building relationships with local child welfare staff, in conjunction with delivering ZERO TO THREE’s Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: Parent-Provider Partnerships training.
The District of Columbia’s Children’s Trust Fund is providing education and support to grandparents caring for their grandchildren, as well as to parents at selected ECE centers to prevent child abuse and neIn Tennessee, a Department of Children’s glect. Funding for this project comes from Services Resource Coordinator in each the District’s child welfare agency. county is responsible for the local Community Advisory Board. Each of these Georgia has built a close working relation- Resource Coordinators has been trained ship between the child care and child on Strengthening Families. In one adminwelfare systems. Home visitors encourage istrative region of the state, the Strengthfamilies with young children that are inening Families approach is being embedvolved in the child welfare system enroll ded into case practice with young children their children in Strengthening Families involved in the child welfare system. ECE programs. Illinois has established a rule mandating that all 3-5 year-olds involved in the child welfare system be enrolled in quality ECE programs. New trainings are available for both child care and child welfare workers to demonstrate the benefits of building stronger partnerships between the two systems. Working with parents and community partners, Kansas is disseminating trainings for ECE providers and child welfare workers throughout the state. These profesWisconsin, a state with countyadministered child welfare services, is funding collaborative activities, such as cross-trainings, in 5 pilot counties where local child welfare departments are interested in working more closely with ECE providers.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IS A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY 1575 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 500 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-371-1565 | WWW.CSSP.ORG
Look for more about ECE-CW linkages in nccic’s upcoming
child welfare bulletin
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Strengthening Families Newsletter
October, 2008 Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention (go) 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced (go) Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families (go) States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children (go) The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads (go)
The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads
The power of positive partnerships is legendary in the early childhood community; what strengthens one of us strengthens all of us as we work together on behalf of children and families. So it’s no surprise that helping young moms and dads develop their own positive, protective partnerships also strengthens families. Parents as Teachers National Center is a Strengthening Families National Affiliate Organization partner. By working to integrate Strengthening Families and the Protective Factors into work on a national scale, it has developed more than a dozen curricula to guide early childhood professionals in their work, and has been embedding Strengthening Families protective factors into each one. “Not that the concepts were not already there,” points out Sue Stepleton, president and CEO of the St. Louis-based National Center. “But having them articulated in this way helps programs clearly see what a powerful force they can be against child abuse and neglect.” Today, parent educators will find Strengthening Families brought to life in these Parents as Teachers curricula: families from other cultures. “Many immigrant families lack an understanding of the U.S. child abuse and neglect laws,” says a Program Manager from Manchester, New Hampshire. “They think discipline is no one’s business but their own. We explain the laws to them and then offer alternative methods of discipline. We have to be careful, though, because sometimes parents are insulted that we would even bring up such a personal matter.” A Parent Education Coordinator in Hazel Park, Michigan notes, “We serve a variety of cultures, and when discussing discipline we are careful to respect cultural values. For example, some Arabic families pinch their children to get them to focus. We explain that if they leave marks on their child’s skin they could be accused of abuse. We explain the U.S. views on child abuse and neglect and do a lot of modeling of alternative methods of discipline. We develop a good rapport with the families before addressing sensitive issues with them.”
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IS A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY 1575 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 500 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-371-1565 | WWW.CSSP.ORG
The Strengthening Families Protective Factors became the underlying thread of a • Born to Learn® Curriculum, 3 Years to new curriculum, Young Dads, Young Moms: A Curriculum for Peer Facilitated Kindergarten Entry Group Meetings. The peer-facilitated group meeting approach provides child • Young Dads, Young Moms: A Curdevelopment and parenting information in riculum for Peer Facilitated Group a format that young parents find particuMeetings larly engaging. • Supporting Infant/Toddler Care Providers The curriculum developers were convinced of the critical value the interwoven • Supporting Families of Children with Protective Factors provide after hearing Special Needs from programs and trainers. “The Strengthening Families information with • Building Relationships Within Family emphasis on Protective Factors to reduce Systems child abuse really resonated with me as we have lost 41 children in the state this year due to abuse,” said one Parents as TeachThe Strengthening Families Protective ers trainer. Factors are helping Parents as Teachers continued on page 6 Born to Learn programs that are serving
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Strengthening Families Newsletter
October, 2008 Children’s Bureau Funds Cooperative Agreement with CSSP to Support Innovative Strategies for CAN Prevention (go) 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit Announced (go) Creating Culturally Appropriate, Effective Strategies for Strengthening Alaska Native Families (go) States Work to Link Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems to Help Youngest, Most Vulnerable Children (go) The Power of Positive Partnerships: Strengthening Families with Young Moms and Dads (go)
The Power of Positive Partnerships (cont’d)
The Young Dads, Young Moms curriculum focuses on a particularly high risk group: teen parents. It evolved as the National Center’s curriculum developers sought to combine their special expertise in helping young parents set goals and make decisions with the research-based elements of Parents as Teachers. The Strengthening Families Protective Factors provided a way for group facilitators to clearly see the huge impact they could have on these young families. Five units address topics in the areas of personal development, health and safety, parenting skills, child development and using community resources. Strengthening Families Protective Factors are woven throughout. “We know that children of young dads and young moms are at greater risk for abuse,” acknowledges Stepleton. “Strengthening families to help prevent child abuse and neglect is critical to what we do.” Through their unique partnerships with parents, parent educators are exceptionally skilled at helping not only children but also their young parents learn, grow, and develop to keep families strong and children safe. For more information about Young Dads, Young Moms: A Curriculum for Peer Facilitated Group Meetings, visit www.ParentsAsTeachers.org and click on the link in the eStore.
About Parents as Teachers National Center
Based in St. Louis, Parents as Teachers National Center is the resource base and backbone of Parents as Teachers, a parent education and early childhood development program serving parents throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually age 5. The nonprofit National Center oversees approximately 3,000 programs offering Parents as Teachers services nationwide as well as in several other countries. For more information about Parents as Teachers, visit www.ParentsAsTeachers.org.
Learn more about Strengthening Families at www.strengtheningfamilies.net
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IS A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY 1575 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 500 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-371-1565 | WWW.CSSP.ORG
To submit an article to the Strengthening Families Newsletter, go to www.strengtheningfamilies.net/contact and briefly describe your topic in the contact form. Articles should be one to two pages in length and should address activities, events, or other news pertaining to Strengthening Families or the Protective Factors.
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