Protective Factors

The Kansas Strengthening Families Plan uses the Center for the Study on Social Policy’s (CSSP) model of protective factors to help strengthen families (http://www.cssp.org/doris_duke/index.html).

The Strengthening Families Plan developed out of the realization that there has been little substantiated success in reducing child maltreatment in the 40 years since maltreatment was first recognized. The CSSP decided to take a new approach to child maltreatment, using early childhood programs to build protective factors for families.

The Strengthening Families approach differs from the current approach to child maltreatment in a number of ways:

• It is based in the early childhood education system.
• There is a focus on building protection for children within their homes and communities, rather than focusing solely on identifying risks.
• Rather than removing children from their homes, the Plan works to overcome or mitigate manageable individual causes of child neglect and abuse-parental isolation, lack of knowledge about child development, and mental, physical or financial crisis in the family.

Protective factors are attributes that work as a buffer for families. These factors help parents at risk for abuse to find resources and supports to help them cope more effectively. When protective factors are present, child abuse is less likely to occur.
Protective factors include:

• Parental Resilience
• Social Connections
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
• Concrete Support in Times of Need
• Social and Emotional Competence of Children

The Strengthening Families Plan works to increase protective factors by focusing on strengths and resiliency rather than on risks and deficits. Protective factors reduce vulnerability to becoming a victim or perpetrator.
Below is the list of protective factors, examples of what these factors look like, and specific actions that can be taken to increase these factors.
Parental Resilience

• Positive parental psychology
• Forming caring relationships
• Trusting staff, disclosing problems, asking for help

Building Parental Resilience

• Set aside space for parents
• Train staff to have relationships with parents
• Work with family support workers and mental health consultants
• Train staff to watch for problems and offer help

Social Connections

• Can help reduce isolation
• Help build “social capital”
• Develop community norms against violence
• Friends can provide tangible and emotional support

Building Social Connections

• Classes and workshops
• Help parents make connections
• Outreach for fathers, grandparents, and other extended family members

Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

• Understanding normal child development
• Non-violent help with problem behaviors such as biting or hitting
• Modeling non-violent, positive parenting techniques
• Providing additional support for parents with children who have special needs

Building Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

• Daily interactions with parents
• Providing parent education classes
• Allowing observation space for parents

Concrete Support in Times of Need

• Supports that assist in connecting families with materials or services in times of need
• Connect families to resources
• Provide families with food, clothing
• Help families connect with services

Building Concrete Support

• Linking parents with specific contacts in organizations and agencies
• Immediate crisis response from staff and assistance in connecting with the appropriate resources

Social and Emotional Competence of Children

• Behavior problems put children at a greater risk for abuse
• Early childhood programs help children develop socially and emotionally
• Less likely to act out at home
• Learn how to verbally express their problems
• Children who have experienced violence need a safe environment

Building Social & Emotional Competence of Children

• Teach social and emotional skills
• Staff respond quickly when there is a concern