6 Protective Factors against Abuse & Neglect

6 Protective Factors against Abuse & Neglect

The Strengthening Families model is constructed of 6 protective factors

1. Parent/Caregiver Resilience

   • Ability to cope (recover) with life stress -

   • Internal and external factors

   • Necessary for child to develop self regulation/self control

2. Social Connections

   • Social isolation is strongly connected to child abuse and neglect

   • Spans cultural differences

   • Family, churches, ECE, programs

3. Knowledge of parenting and child development

   • Coaching, mentoring, advice, practice – timing is important,

   • Parents attempt to control and even teach is applied according to what was done to them – (unless they have raised consciousness)

4. Concrete Support in time of need

   • Directly addresses the chronic stress risk factor- especially from financial stresses

   • Community resources – food, transportation, child care

5. Social and emotional competence

   • Nurturing relationships

   • Secure attachments – help when needed.

6. Healthy parent-child relationships

See Module 4, Handout 1: 5 Protective Factors Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

See Module 4, Handout 2: Questions to Assess Children’s Needs using Protective Factors

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