Transcript An approach to child abuse and neglect prevention that was:

Implementing SFI in your ECE
Program
Developed by the
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Funded by the
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
In the beginning, we were seeking a
strategic, feasible approach to child
abuse prevention that was:
• systematic,
• national,
• reached large numbers of
very young children, and
• would have impact long before abuse or
neglect occurred
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Our hypothesis was that early care
and education programs could be
central because they offer:
• Daily contact with parents
and children
• Uniquely intimate relationship
with families
• A universal approach of positive
encouragement and education for families
• An early warning and response system at
the first sign of trouble
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The CSSP Process
Step 1: Search the evidence to find out what
factors really reduce child abuse and neglect
Step 2: Explore the connection between
factors that prevent child abuse and neglect
and what quality early childhood programs do
to build them
Step 3: Identify programs that build the
factors and learn how they do it
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How Early Childhood programs contribute
to prevention of child abuse and neglect
Quality Early Care & Education:
Program Strategies That:
Protective Factors
Parental Resilience
Social Connections
????
Knowledge of Parenting
& Child Development
CAN
Prevention
Concrete supports in
times of need
Social and Emotional
Competence of Children
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Parental Resilience
• Psychological health; parents feel supported
and able to solve problems; can develop
trusting relationships with others and reach
out for help
• Parents who did not have positive childhood
experiences or who are in troubling
circumstances need extra support and
trustworthy relationships
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Social Connections
• Relationships with extended family, friends,
co-workers, other parents with children of
similar ages
• Community norms
• Mutual assistance networks: child care,
emotional support, concrete help
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Knowledge of parenting and child
development
• Basic information about how children
develop
• Basic techniques of helping children
develop, dealing with challenging behaviors
• Alternatives to parenting behaviors
experienced as a child
• Help with challenging children
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Concrete Support
• Response to a crisis: food, shelter, clothing
• Assistance with daily needs: health care,
education, job opportunities
• Services for parents: depression and other
mental health issues, domestic violence,
substance abuse;
• Specialized services for children
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Social Emotional Development
• Connection between normal development
and positive parent child interaction
• Appropriate adult response to challenging
behaviors, traumatic experiences or when
development is not on track
• What classroom learning sends home to
families
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How Early Childhood programs contribute
to prevention of child abuse and neglect
Quality Early Care & Education:
Program Strategies That:
Protective Factors
Parental Resilience
•Facilitate friendships and
mutual support
•Strengthen parenting
Social Connections
•Respond to family crises
•Link families to services and
opportunities
Knowledge of Parenting
& Child Development
Prevention
•Value and support parents
•Facilitate children’s social and
emotional development
•Observe and respond to early
warning signs of child abuse or
neglect
CAN
Concrete supports in
times of need
Social and Emotional
Competence of Children
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CAN
Prevention
Protective
Factors
Strategies
Program Components
Early Childhood Infrastructure
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•Parental Resilience
CAN
•Social Connections
Prevention
•Knowledge of Parenting
and Child Development
•Concrete support in times
of need
•Social and Emotional
Competence of children
Protective
Factors
Strategies
Program Components
Early Childhood Infrastructure
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•Facilitate
friendships and
mutual support
•Strengthen
parenting
•Respond to family
crises
•Help families get
what they need
CAN
Prevention
Protective
Factors
Strategies
•Value and support
parents
•Facilitate children’s
social & emotional
development
Program Components
Early Childhood Infrastructure
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•Mental health
consultation
•Parent education
•Family support
CAN
Prevention
Protective
Factors
•Physical space
•Home visiting
Strategies
•Social emotional
programming
Program Components
Early Childhood Infrastructure
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CAN
Prevention
•Staff training and
Support
•Linkages with
other agencies
Protective
Factors
Strategies
•Strong relationship
with CW
•Parent Involvement
Program Components
Early Childhood Infrastructure
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Program
elements
• Family Support
– Family Support Workers
– Parenting Supports
– Home Visiting
• Social Emotional
Strategies
– Conflict resolution curricula
– Arts programs
– Diversity affirmation
• Mental Health
Consultation
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Staffing
• Leadership that shares power
–
–
–
–
Clear parent leadership roles
Flexibility in staff roles
Decentralized management
Shared sense of mission
• Focus on Capacity Building
– Internal training and mentoring
– Local hiring
• Team based Approach
– Team staffing
– Regular meetings
– Structured communication
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Relationships
• Use of Space to welcome
parents
– Observation Areas
– Dedicated Parent Space
• Outreach to Men
• Strong relationship with
child protection agency
• Relationships with other
agencies and services
– Networks, collaboratives,
partnerships
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Parents Say:
“I got referred
to the program
because I whacked
my child. Before
I used to beat
her up like there
was no tomorrow
but now I don't.”
“I don’t know how
staff does it, but you
know you can go to
them with any issue
and they’ll be
professional and it
will stay with them”
“I find strength from the unconditional support and
non-threatening environment here.”
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The Bottom Line
•
•
•
Using early childhood education to prevent
child abuse is:
A bold and promising departure from
conventional prevention strategies
Supported by both early childhood professionals
and child abuse prevention advocates
More than a collection of good program
components. Success hinges on the quality of
relationships
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I used to be
argumentative
and my
grandbaby’s
really calmed me
down—its what
she learns in the
classroom that
has made the
difference
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Early care and education
programs can serve several
critical roles for young parents:
• as a primary source of information and
support for young families
• as a gateway to outside services or
supports such as health or mental health
services, transportation, and even education,
housing and jobs.
• as the key early warning system when
families or children are in trouble.
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“This has really helped me—my child is really hyper and
they’ve taught me a lot of patience and how to handle it.”
“My sense that I have
“It really
motivates the
other people I can depend on
here is great. That’s huge.” child to bring out
“I’m learning new ways to set
boundaries—it makes me go back
home and behave differently with
her (my daughter) to reinforce what
they’re teaching.”
the best in the
parent”
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What your Program can do
• Use the self-assessment to identify areas for
practice enhancement
• Build effective linkages with child welfare
agencies and child abuse prevention
advocates
• Educate others on the role early care and
education can play in child abuse and
neglect prevention
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“I didn’t realize how hard being a mom was.
Pat [the home visitor] was like a breath of fresh
air—she gave me ideas for crafts and things that
I could do with my baby. When I talk to
mom’s in other county’s who don’t have this
support I realize how lucky we are.”
Of all the encounters I’ve had since I’ve been
[in this community] this is the place where I feel
the most safe, the most comfortable and the
most welcome.
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Tools for Implementation
www.cssp.org
• Program guide book and self-assessment tools
• Literature review (and ongoing links to relevant
research)
• Program write-ups
• Paper on EC infrastructure
• Newsletter
• Handouts/slide shows/communication materials
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