The California Family Strengthening and
Support Standards are designed to be used by
family support providers for planning,
providing, and evaluating quality services and
activities and to be implemented with the
support of networks, public departments,
private foundations, families and communities.
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Effect positive change
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Have a common language
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Recognize effective Family Strengthening and
Support programs
Position programs for funding and policy
Develop Standards that are flexible and
inclusive
Standards Committee
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Members represent Networks across the
state of California
Support from SH Cowell Foundation, OCAP
Subject matter expertise from San Francisco
Family Support Network and CSSP
Local Networks

Santa Barbara

San Francisco
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Tahoe/Truckee

San Joaquin
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Orange

Humboldt
Statewide Networks
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Family Resource Center
Network of California
California Family
Resource Association
Strategies

Flexible with Multiple Uses, for example:
◦ Self Administered
◦ Participant Satisfaction
◦ A way to tell the story about quality practice for programs
and funders

Used for Training and Support
Family Support Principles and the
Strengthening Families Approach,
with its 5 Protective Factors, are
woven throughout the standards.

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The premise is that primary
responsibility for the
development and well-being of
children lies within the family
All segments of society support
families as they raise their
children.

Foster the optimal development of children,
youth, and adult family members.

Relationships based on equality and respect

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Strengthen parent-child relationships and
support parent to be good nurturers and
providers.
Public Private Partnerships—flexible,
responsive, do what is needed!

All families have strengths

All families need support

Focus on protective factors that all
families need
Parental Resilience
Social Connections
Knowledge of Parenting and
Child Development
Concrete Support
in Times of Need
Social and Emotional
Competence of Children

Family Centeredness

Family Strengthening

Diversity

Community Building

Evaluation

Standards, Indicators, Examples

Arrows

Italics

Glossary
Minimum
Quality
Indicator
Formal Structure
- Staff Training
- Family Involvement
-
High
Quality
Indicator
Data Analysis
- Sharing out Evaluation Results
Minimum
- Program Modification
Quality
- Capacity for Evaluation
Indicator
Integration
-
High
Quality
Indicator
San Francisco Family Support Network
 Training
 Evaluation
 Membership
http://sffsn.org/family-support-standards/
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Do the Standards and their Section Introductions reflect the
values of and approaches to Family and Community
Strengthening? Comments?
Are the Minimum Quality indicators appropriate as a basic
expectation for all FSOs? Comments?
Do the High Quality Indicators reflect a level of excellence for
our field?
Do you see Family Strengthening Organizations, including
your network members, in the examples? Comments?
Please identify any terms that you think should be further
defined in a glossary for the larger audience?
DATE


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October 28,
2011
November
10, 2011
January 15,
2012
ACTIVITY
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Present Version 2 to CNFSN
Standards Committee Incorporates
Feedback – creates Version 3
Version 3 sent to Networks with
talking points to present to
members
Networks submit feedback to
committee
DATE
ACTIVITY
January 31,
2012
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February 15,
2012

CNFSN vote to ratify Standards
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March 2012

Implementation plan complete
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Spring 2012
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Funder Engagement Meeting
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Standards Committee incorporates
feedback – creates Version 4