SELECTED RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES (SF) PROTECTIVE FACTORS Charlyn Harper Browne, PhD Center for the Study of Social Policy Senior Associate and Project Director, Quality Improvement Center on Early Childhood

Protective Factors Characteristics or conditions in individuals, families, and communities that decrease the likelihood of a person becoming a victim or perpetrator of abuse or neglect because it provides a buffer against risk. (Centers for Disease Control) Characteristics or conditions in individuals, families, and communities that increase well-being, build family capacity, and foster resilience. (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse) Buffers to help individuals find resources, supports, and strategies that help them to function effectively, even under stress. Building protective factors is based in the idea that individuals, families, and communities have strengths.

Prevention and Protective Factors Risk-reduction approaches to prevention alone are not effective (Blum,1998). More than 20 years of prevention research has shown that building protective factors and reducing risk factors are key to effective prevention, whether the issue is the prevention of drug abuse, intimate partner violence, adolescent pregnancy, or child maltreatment. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Risk-reduction approaches to prevention alone are not

effective (Blum,1998).

More than 20 years of prevention research has shown that

building protective factors and reducing risk factors are key

to effective prevention, whether the issue is the prevention

of drug abuse, intimate partner violence, adolescent

pregnancy, or child maltreatment. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

The Study of Protective Factors and Child Maltreatment Prevention Protective factors have NOT been studied as extensively or as rigorously as risk factors . (Center for Disease Control) Protective factors under study include: Child Factors Parent and Family Factors Social and environmental Factors (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse)

Protective factors have NOT been studied

as extensively or as rigorously as risk

factors . (Center for Disease Control)

Protective factors under study include:

Child Factors

Parent and Family Factors

Social and environmental Factors

(National Adoption Information Clearinghouse)

Child Protective Factors Under Study Good peer relationships Positive disposition Active coping style Positive self-esteem Good social skills Wholesome relationships Internal locus of control Balance between seeking help and autonomy Hobbies or interests

Good peer relationships

Positive disposition

Active coping style

Positive self-esteem

Good social skills

Wholesome relationships

Internal locus of control

Balance between seeking help and autonomy

Hobbies or interests

Parent and Family Protective Factors Under Study Supportive family environment * Secure attachment with children Nurturing family skills Parental reconciliation with own childhood history Household rules and child monitoring Family expectations of pro-social behavior Perceived caring by and connectedness to others Affirmation of ethnic / cultural identity Opportunity to model pro-social behavior

Supportive family environment *

Secure attachment with children

Nurturing family skills

Parental reconciliation with own childhood history

Household rules and child monitoring

Family expectations of pro-social behavior

Perceived caring by and connectedness to others

Affirmation of ethnic / cultural identity

Opportunity to model pro-social behavior

Social and Environmental Protective Factors Under Study Access to health care and social services Adequate housing Consistent parental employment Supportive adults outside the family Safe and stable communities Strong and positive connection with community

Access to health care and social services

Adequate housing

Consistent parental employment

Supportive adults outside the family

Safe and stable communities

Strong and positive connection with community

The SF Protective Factors: A Two-Generational Approach Parental Resilience Social Connections Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development Concrete Support in Times of Need Social and Emotional Competence in Children

Rationale for Building the SF Protective Factors: Impact of Child Maltreatment Immediate impact on the child includes physical injury, sensory impairment, emotional trauma, and death. Long-term impact on the child includes impairment of brain circuitry, low threshold for stress, damage to the area of the brain responsible for learning and memory, intellectual and social deficiencies, increased risk for depression, delinquency, and violent behavior. Reverberating impact across social systems including medical, mental health, law enforcement, judicial system, social services, and other helping agencies as they respond to child abuse and neglect and provide support to the child. Enduring impact on the child refers to the effects of child maltreatment on adolescent and adult behavioral, psychological, and health status.

Enduring Impact: Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (Vincent Felitti & Robert Anda) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study An examination of the relationship between current adult health status, childhood maltreatment, and family dysfunction. Categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences Emotional abuse Physical abuse Sexual abuse Emotional neglect Physical neglect Household substance abuse Household mental illness Incarcerated household member Mother treated violently Parental separation or divorce

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

An examination of the relationship between current adult health status, childhood maltreatment, and family dysfunction.

Categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Emotional abuse

Physical abuse

Sexual abuse

Emotional neglect

Physical neglect

Household substance abuse

Household mental illness

Incarcerated household member

Mother treated violently

Parental separation or divorce

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, cont’d ACE Score An individual’s ACE score equals the total number of ACEs reported. The higher the score, the greater the amount of trauma experienced in childhood. Study Findings As the number of adverse childhood experiences increase, the risk for health and behavioral problems in adolescence and adulthood increases, for example: Alcohol and other substance abuse, dependence, or addiction Depression; anxiety disorders; suicidality Heart disease; pulmonary disease; liver disease Perpetrating or experiencing intimate family violence Sexual promiscuity and unintended pregnancies

ACE Score

An individual’s ACE score equals the total number of ACEs reported.

The higher the score, the greater the amount of trauma experienced in childhood.

Study Findings

As the number of adverse childhood experiences increase, the risk for health and

behavioral problems in adolescence and adulthood increases, for example:

Alcohol and other substance abuse, dependence, or addiction

Depression; anxiety disorders; suicidality

Heart disease; pulmonary disease; liver disease

Perpetrating or experiencing intimate family violence

Sexual promiscuity and unintended pregnancies

Parental / Child Resilience Research Parental Resilience : the ability to manage both crisis and the everyday challenges of family life, and to address the physical, emotional and cognitive impacts of stress. (FRIENDS) Building parental resilience helps parents to find ways of responding to their children during stressful times other than feeling helpless, withdrawn, and distant (neglectful) or becoming aggressive, critical, or sarcastic (abusive). (Howe, 2005)

Parental Resilience : the ability to manage both crisis and the everyday challenges of family life, and to address the physical, emotional and cognitive impacts of stress. (FRIENDS)

Building parental resilience helps parents to find

ways of responding to their children during

stressful times other than feeling helpless,

withdrawn, and distant (neglectful) or becoming

aggressive, critical, or sarcastic (abusive). (Howe, 2005)

Parental / Child Resilience Research, cont’d Childhood Resilience : the capacity to adapt successfully and to continue to function competently under stress and adversity . (Garmezy, 1997) Experiences of sensitive, mind-engaging, and secure attachments promote childhood resilience. (Howe, 2005) The pathways to resilient adaptation may differ for non- maltreated and maltreated children. Non-maltreated children seem to find their resilience from their perceived emotional availability of others during stressful times, as well as from the opportunity to develop positive relationships with available others. (Cicchetti & Rogosch, 1997)

Childhood Resilience : the capacity to adapt successfully and to continue to function competently under stress and adversity . (Garmezy, 1997)

Experiences of sensitive, mind-engaging, and secure

attachments promote childhood resilience. (Howe, 2005)

The pathways to resilient adaptation may differ for non-

maltreated and maltreated children.

Non-maltreated children seem to find their resilience from their perceived emotional availability of others during stressful times, as well as from the opportunity to develop positive relationships with available others. (Cicchetti & Rogosch, 1997)

Full Report to be Completed October 2009 Charlyn Harper Browne, PhD QIC-EC Project Director [email_address]