1. Strengthening Families: The Key to Safe & Healthy Children
Standards for Family-Serving Programs: Building Success through Family Support
Developed by the NJ Task Force on Child Abuse & Neglect & Family Support America
©Statewide Parent Advocacy Network 2004

2. What is Family Support?
A set of beliefs & an approach to strengthening & empowering families & communities
Grassroots, community-based programs designed to promote family cohesion & prevent family problems
A shift in service delivery
A movement for social change

3. How does family support work?
Interventions are comprehensive and within the context of the family and the community
Interventions promote positive behaviors & outcomes, instead of just treating problems

4. How does family support work?
Interventions focus on family-identified needs & hopes, not the wishes of professionals
Interventions see the family as a part of its larger community

5. How does family support work?
Interventions help strengthen the family’s networks and use those networks as the major source of support

6. What is the goal of family support?
To help families learn and use the knowledge and skills they need to be effective as a family within their community

7. How can you tell if it’s family support?
Relationships are built on equality & respect
Families learn how to get what they need
Families are involved at every step of the way
Family strengths are recognized and built on

8. How can you tell if it’s family support?
The diversity and cultural, racial, and language identities of families are celebrated & affirmed
Communities are strengthened
There is advocacy for fair, responsive & accountable systems

9. What is “promotion of strong families”
Also known as “primary prevention”:
Targets the general population
Offers services & activities before any signs of undesired behaviors
Available to all regardless of family status

10. What is “prevention?” Prevention includes:
Promotion, or primary prevention
Secondary prevention, targeted to families “at risk” before negative behaviors occur
Tertiary prevention, provided to reduce the impact of negative behaviors & prevent their reoccurrence

11. Standards for Family Support Programs
The factors for effective family support programs include:
Beliefs in the principles of family support
Effective Practice
Effective administration

12. Belief in Family Support Ideas
Family-centered
Community-based
Culturally sensitive and culturally competent
Early start
Developmentally appropriate
Families are partners
Empowerment & strengths-based

13. Effective Practice Standards
Flexible & responsive
Based in partnership
Links with formal & informal supports
Universally available & voluntary
Comprehensive & integrated/coordinated
Easily accessible
Long term and as intense as needed

14. Effective Administration Standards
Sound program structure, design & practices
Committed, caring staff
Data collection & documentation
Measures outcomes & conducts evaluation
Adequate funding & long range plans
Collaborates with families & communities

15. BELIEFS: Family-Centered
Children are part of & are influenced by their families
Families are part of & are influenced by their communities
Communities are part of & are influenced by our larger society

16. Individual Influences
Parent readiness
Parenting knowledge
Attitudes & beliefs
Self-esteem
Stress
Mental Health
Substance abuse

17. Interpersonal & Societal Influences
Marital factors
Lack of child care
Parents
Special needs
Isolation
Domestic violence

18. Environmental Influences
Society’s value of children & families
Neighborhood conditions
Income-related stressors
Political factors
Housing
Tolerance/media portrayal of violence
Discrimination & prejudice

19. BELIEFS: Community-based
Supports & services are available locally where families live, work, attend school
Supports & services contribute to community-building

20. Community empowerment
Shared responsibility, not just professional responsibility
Power resides in communities, not agencies
Communities, not professionals, are the experts
Services & activities are planned & implemented based on community needs & priorities

21. Community empowerment
Interdependency & coordination of planning & services, not fragmentation
Community-based leadership that develops shared vision, broad support, & management of community problem-solving, not external leadership based on authority, position or title

22. Community empowerment
Appreciation of racial, ethnic, language diversity, not denial of differences
Emphasis on cooperation & collaboration rather than external linkages limited to networking & coordination

23. Community empowerment
Inclusive, not closed, decision-making
Accountability to community, not agency
Evaluation to check program development & evaluation, not just to raise funds
Funding based on critical issues, not “categories”
Maximum community involvement at all levels, not just feedback or input

24. Family Strengthening Pyramid
Pre- and post-birth care & mother-child bonding
Parent education
Child care/respite
Early childhood education
School climate improvement
Comprehensive health education
Early substance abuse prevention
Law-related education
Peer & other supports

25. Family Strengthening Pyramid
Stress relief
Meaningful work & community service
Worksite wellness
Alternatives
Community education
Health screening & assessments
Alternative health practices
Media influence
Spiritual development
Fun

26. BELIEFS: Culturally sensitive & competent
Affirm family cultural, ethnic, racial, & language identity
Promote cross-cultural understanding & respect for differences
Help families navigate the dominant US society & culture
Work to make society more supportive of all families

27. BELIEFS: Early start
Support families before negative patterns are established
Help families understand child development & their child’s unique strengths & needs

28. BELIEFS: Developmentally appropriate
Relevant to the ages & developmental levels of children & families
Understanding of the unique needs at each stage in the life span of children & families

29. Developmentally appropriate
Child development is the ages & stages a child goes through:
Physically
Emotionally
Socially
Intellectually

30. Developmentally appropriate
Stages of family development are related to:
Age(s) of their child(ren)
Transitions families experience
Parent(s) aging process

31. BELIEFS: Family-Professional Partnership
Families & professionals work together in relationships based on equality & mutual respect
Families are partners on the individual, program, agency, & systemic levels

32. Family-Professional Partnership
Important techniques:
Active listening
Empathy
Sincere caring
Recognition & appreciation of existing knowledge & skills
Focus on strengthening knowledge & skills
Shared decision-making

33. Families as Assets
National policy should be built on a recognition that families are the essential unit of civic engagement & democracy
Each family must be recognized & acknowledged as unique & individual
All families have common human needs & require different levels of social investment at different times in their life span

34. Families as Assets
Investments in families & children become assets in the development of strong communities that participate in the larger good
Children are our future, our legacy, & our responsibility
Each of us can make a contribution to the future generations of all children.

35. BELIEFS: Empowering & Strengths-Based
Build on the knowledge & skills of families & communities
Help families realize their own strengths to promote the healthy development of their children

36. Empowering & Strengths-Based
Recognize that everyone has strengths
Create opportunities for learning & use of new skills & knowledge
Support self-efficacy, self-reliance, positive mental health, competency, mastery of skills: “assets-building”

37. ASSESSING BELIEFS Is it family-centered? Is it community-based?
Involve all possible participants, such as child, parents, family members, caregivers?
Is it community-based?
Reinforce outcomes in home & community?
Engage community members in program development, implementation & ownership?
Recognize the role of community members in supporting families?
Use informal & formal supports needed by family?

38. ASSESSING BELIEFS Is it culturally sensitive & competent?
Promote & strengthen cultural identity & diversity?
Does it provide an early start?
Work with families BEFORE negative patterns start – even before birth as needed?
Is it developmentally appropriate?
Meet the needs of children & families/caregivers at their stage(s) of development?

39. ASSESSING BELIEFS Are families partners with staff/professionals?
Treat families as partners & collaborate, as evidenced by involving families in planning & decision-making & promoting self-reliance?
Are empowering & strengths-based approaches used?
Are the strengths & abilities of families identified & built upon?

40. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Flexible & Responsive
Tailor practices to the needs of diverse families
Provide supports as needed by families
Services are flexible in type, language, etc., & change as needed
Services respond to emerging family & community issues

41. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Partnership Approaches
Families influence policies & practices
Coordination & collaboration among service providers is maximized
Families & professionals advocate together for fair, responsive, & accountable services & systems

42. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Linkages with Supports
Professionals work with families to mobilize formal & informal resources to support families
Professionals work with families & communities to build community supports

43. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Linkages with Supports
Supports include:
Schools
Neighborhoods
Religious institutions
Peers, friends
Media
Health care providers
Policymakers

44. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Universally Available & Voluntary
Programs, supports & services are offered to the broad community
Programs, supports, & services are seen as an opportunity to learn & grow, not to “fix” dysfunction
Participation is voluntary

45. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Comprehensive & coordinated
Multiple supports are available & used to reinforce positive outcomes
Families have access to comprehensive information & coordinated resources
Supports are available as long as needed
Families can access “one-stop” services

46. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Easily Accessible
Services are available in non-threatening environments that are convenient to families
Services are available at the times that families can take advantage of them
Supports are provided for participation

47. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Easily Accessible
Services are available to wide range of families without limiting eligibility standards
Effective outreach to diverse communities ensures that families are aware of available services

48. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Long Term & Adequate Intensity
Services are provided for as long as needed and to the extent needed
Services respond to changing needs
Services provide opportunities to celebrate short-term successes & work to maintain long-term positive outcomes

49. EFFECTIVE PRACTICES: Long-term & Adequate Intensity
Time needed is taken to develop trust, identify all needed services & supports, & comprehensively address needs through building knowledge & mastering skills

50. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Are services flexible & responsive?
Are services flexible to respond to unique needs or circumstances of families?
Can service intensity be varied based on needs?
Are services offered at convenient times & locations?
Are incentives & supports (childcare, transportation, refreshments) for participation provided?

51. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Are effective partnership approaches used?
Are families recognized & treated as partners?
Are families provided with the supports they need for effective partnership?
Are services provided in partnership with other providers, to ensure coordination?
Are participants linked with formal & informal supports?

52. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Are services universally available & voluntary?
Are services offered to a broad range of families, not just families with problems?
Are families who request services able to access them?
Are services comprehensive, coordinated & integrated?
Do programs bring all needed services together for easy access by families?

53. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Are services easily accessible?
Are services in non-threatening & convenient locations & times?
Can families easily access staff when needed?
Are families aware of services & how to access them?
Are services long-term & with adequate intensity?
Are services provided with the frequency & intensity needed?
Do services continue even after short-term successes to ensure maintenance of desired outcomes?

54. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Importance of effective administration & management of:
Overall agencies & organizations
Programs within agencies

55. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Agency/Organization
Administrative structure
Budget/financial management
Funding & overall resource development
Board of directors
Human resources & personnel management
Facility operations

56. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Agency/Organization
Organizational policies & procedures
Quality assurance & outcome measures
Long-term & strategic planning
Public relations & marketing
Community support & collaboration

57. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Programs
Program structure, components, design & procedures
Practices related to interactions with families served
Funding of program
Supervision, staff development, & training
Pertinent certifications & licensures

58. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Programs
Annual program work plan & long-range plans for the program
Record-keeping
Evaluation & reporting
Use of advisory groups
Cooperative & collaborative relationships with other programs & groups

59. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Sound Program Structure, Design, & Practices
Program activities reflect the beliefs & incorporate effective practice standards for promotion/prevention programs
Family support principles are modeled in all program activities – planning, governance, & administration

60. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Sound Program Structure, Design, & Practices
Design, procedures, & timeframes for implementation are documented & understandable to staff & families
Program manuals reflect concepts, practices, & administrative standards of the program

61. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Committed, Caring Staff
Quality of staff & their ability to interact effectively with families & other professionals is key
Staff & families work together in relationships based on equality & mutual respect
Staff are warm, empathetic, effective listeners, & use a strength-based approach
Adequate staff training & supervision is provided

62. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Data Collection & Dissemination
Service levels & outcomes are collected & reported to staff, Board, & families, & community
Relevant data is gathered at all stages from diverse sources
Staff are trained in record-keeping & report preparation

63. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Data Collection & Documentation
Intake data:
Source of referral
Family structure & membership
Major strengths
Major concerns/issues
Available resources & sources of support
Voluntary nature of participation

64. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Data Collection & Documentation
Service summary data:
Frequency & intensity of service(s) provided over time
#s of families receiving services & supports
Types of services provided
Information on who is providing services

65. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Data Collection & Documentation
Descriptive Data:
Length of time of service
Level of family’s participation
Extent of goals achieved
Reason for termination of services

66. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Outcomes Measures & Evaluation
Use of quantitative & qualitative data to evaluate program effectiveness & accomplishment of desired outcomes
Identify changes in circumstances, knowledge, skill, attitudes, behaviors

67. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Outcome Measures & Evaluation
Evaluation tools are:
Relevant to program
Relevant to families
Relevant to characteristics of effective research (reliability & validity)
Relevant to current parenting norms
Relevant to staff skill sets
Relevant to fiscal constraints of agency

68. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Outcome Measures & Evaluation
Strongest evaluations:
Random assignment of participants
Large enough sample size
Short & long-term results
Behaviors not just attitudes or beliefs
Proper statistical analyses
Publish positive & negative results
Includes replication of successful programs
Uses independent evaluators

69. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Outcome Measures & Evaluation
Evaluate benefits gained by families:
Evidence of more effective parenting knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors
Evidence of ability to cope with stresses
Improved parent-child communication or bonding
Enhanced ability to care for child(ren)’s physical & developmental needs
Increased social supports & decreased risk indicators

70. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Adequate Funding & Long Range Plan
Stable & long-term funding is available for ongoing program implementation
Elements include:
Financial stability
Annual & long-term plans for implementation, responding to family feedback, & addressing resource needs
Meet accreditation, licensure & tax-exempt requirements as needed

71. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Collaboration with Families & Communities
Advisory groups, collaborations, & input foster family & community involvement
Families & communities are involved in all program activities: planning, governance, administration, & evaluation

72. EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Collaboration with Families & Communities
The engagement & support of families & communities is key to sustaining & funding family support programs
Participation ideas:
Focus groups
Family/community surveys
Follow-up questionnaires
Advisory groups
Participation of families & community representatives on boards of directors

73. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Does the program have sound structure, design, & practices?
Is the agency conducting the program strong & stable, as evidenced by past success?
Does the agency have documented program, management, & fiscal procedures in place?
Are timeframes written & realistic?

74. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Does the program incorporate critical beliefs & effective practices?
Does the program follow an established & researched model?
Is the program a good fit for the intended targeted population (families & community)?

75. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Does the program have committed, caring staff?
Are direct service staff caring, empathetic, sensitive, and dedicated?
Are staff strong, credible, experienced, culturally-competent & credentialed?
Are adequate training & supervision provided at the onset & ongoing?

76. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Does the program have adequate data collection & documentation?
Are record-keeping documents in place & ready for use in a timely manner?
Is the infrastructure adequate to manage data collection & preparation of reports?

77. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Does the program measure outcomes & conduct evaluations?
Are well-defined & quantified levels of service routinely recorded?
Are relevant outcomes measured?
Is there a process in place for routine analysis of data on outcomes?
Are evaluations shared with staff, Board, families & communities?
Are evaluations used to improve services?

78. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Does the program have adequate funding & long-range plans?
Is the anticipated funding in line with the long-range plans?
Are adequate funds available for current & long-term provision of effective services?
Are long-term plans realistic & in line with family & community needs?

79. ASSESSING EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Do programs involve families & communities as equal partners & collaborators?
Is family/community involvement evident through the use of advisory groups, family feedback surveys, focus groups, &/or other means?
Is continued involvement by families & community members welcomed & used?

80. Family Strengthening & Support: Critical for Child Welfare
The most effective way to keep our children safe & healthy is to ensure that their families are strong from the start.
The most effective intervention is promotion & prevention.