Protective Factors

Training for Professionals

Strengthening Families Protective Factors is a research-based, cost-effective framework developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) over the last decade to increase family strengths, enhance child development and reduce child abuse and neglect. This approach helps child welfare systems, early education, prevention organizations and other programs work with parents to build five protective factors that, when present, increase the overall well-being of children and families. Protective factors are attributes that serve as buffers, helping parents who might otherwise be at risk of abusing their children to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress.

Families thrive when protective factors are robust in their lives and communities. By providing child care professionals and others who work with children more information about these protective factors, we can help build protective factors in families with young children, building on family strengths and promoting optimal child and youth development.

The Five Protective Factors
Helping Kids Understand Feelings
Parenting as Children Grow
Connecting with Others
Building Inner Strength
Knowing How to Find Help