Using a Protective Factors
Framework to Build
ECE/CW collaboration
Nilofer Ahsan
November 2011
What we know about the developmental
needs of young kids in CW
• Early attachment is a basic building block
for many aspects of early development
• Early childhood trauma can have a
cascading impact on ongoing development
• One aspect of the impact of trauma is that it
impacts behavior
• Protective factors are important and can
buffer and mitigate the impacts of trauma
• Most children will return or stay with their
biological parents
Therefore…..
• Young children in CW will need particular
focus on their developmental needs
• Developmental supports for these children
must be informed by an understanding of
the impact of trauma on development
• We also need to think intentionally about
how to support the capacity of families to
keep children safe and support their early
development
Therefore…..A four point agenda
• Ensure that young children in CW are
connected to quality ECE programs and other
developmental supports
• Build the capacity in ECE programs to work
with and support development for children who
have experienced trauma
• Build the capacity in CW to recognize and
respond to the development needs of young
children
• Support the capacity of ECE programs and
CW to build protective factors to strengthen
families
Federal priorities around
ECE/CW linkages
• Requirement for collaboration between HS
and CW
• ACYF and Child Care Bureau
Memorandum encouraging collaboration
• ACYF’s new focus on well-being
• Overarching push for collaboration at the
federal level
• Requirements around Part C
What we know: Families thrive
when protective factors are
robust in their lives and
communities
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
ALIGNING RESULTS FOR FAMILIES
Strengthening Families National Network
WA
MT
ME
ND
OR
MN
ID
SD
NY
WI
RI
NE
UT
OH
IL
WV
MO
NC
TN
OK
NM
AR
TX
MD
VA
KY
SC
MS
AK
AL
GA
LA
FL
HI
NJ
DE
IN
CO
KS
AZ
CT
PA
IA
NV
MA
MI
WY
CA
V
T N
H
DC
FEDERAL PARTNERS
Administration for Children, Youth and Families:
Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
Administration on Children and Families, Office of
Child Care and Office of Head Start
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (ECCS)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), local Project Launch sites
Department of Defense, New Parents Program and
Family Advocacy Program
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
NATIONAL NETWORK
LEVERS FOR IMPLEMENTING
AND SUSTAINING
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
•Integration into policies and
systems
•Professional
development
•Real parent partnerships
How SF states are working
with Child Welfare
AK
Protective Factors are being
x
integrated into training for child
welfare workers:
Strengthening Families is becoming
part of the child welfare practice model
CT IL
MA
ME MI MO NC NH NJ
x
x
x
PA TN
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Protective factors are being integrated
into child welfare assessment tools
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
New partnerships are being formed
between child welfare and early care
and education programs using
Strengthening Families
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Child welfare provides significant
funding for state Strengthening
Families work
x
x
x
x
EC/CW linkages other
directions
• Learning from states already doing this
work
• Working across states to develop training
resources for child welfare
• Cross-walking protective capacities with
protective factors
• Identifying key places to build in a
protective factors approach across CW
decision-making
• Partnering with states to build this agenda
How you can stay involved
• Upcoming webinar with the NRC for InHome Services
• Get involved with your state SF efforts
• Join the SF mailing list
www.strengtheningfamilies.net
Nilofer Ahsan
Center for the Study of Social Policy
nilofer.ahsan@cssp.org
Questions?