Protective Factors 

Strengthening Families

http://www.cssp.org/reform/strengtheningfamilies 

Strengthening Families ™ is a research-informed approach to increase family 
strengths, enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and 
neglect. It is based on engaging families, programs and communities in building five 
protective factors:

• Parental resilience
• Social connections
• Knowledge of parenting and child development
• Concrete support in times of need
• Social and emotional competence of children 

Using the Strengthening Families framework, more than 30 states are 
shifting policy and practice to help programs working with children and 
families focus on protective factors. States apply the Strengthening Families 
approach in early childhood, child welfare, child abuse prevention and other child and family serving systems.
For more information, visit www.strengtheningfamilies.net 
. 

http://www.magnoliaplacela.org/index.php?FileName=theory-of-change 

http://greatstartforkids.org/content/char-em-gsc-finds-success-strengthening-families-initiative