•Strengthening Families is a research-based approach that can help systems, programs and workers align their practice with what we know about developmental science.
•Brain development research points us to early childhood (the first three years in particular) and adolescence as critical periods of development. Strengthening Families focuses on early childhood while the parallel Youth Thrive initiative focuses on protective and promotive factors for youth •Looking at early childhood in particular, Strengthening Families emphasizes the importance of nurturing and responsive relationships with caregivers
•A fast growing body of research underscores the effects of traumatic experiences on children and youth – effects that can carry into the rest of a young person’s life. We know now that the presence of a buffering adult can be critical in helping children come through stressful experiences without negative effects on their development. But we also know that typical system responses to children’s traumatic experiences can exacerbate those negative effects – such as removal from the home, or punishment for “misbehavior” when children react to their experiences.
•Strengthening Families helps professionals shift their practice to better align with developmental science, to be more responsive to trauma, pay attention to developmental issues and support parents and caregivers in nurturing the children in their care.
“This isn’t something you can go and do- but something that is added or enhances current program components.”