Presentation from the final session of the 2009 Strengthening Families Leadership Summit in Atlanta, GA. Slides show recommended actions from each of 7 sessions where participants discussed provocative questions about the future of Strengthening Families. Themes are shared at the conclusion of the presentation.

1. provocative questions: summary and synthesis OCTOBER 29, 4:15 – 5:00 PM

2. generative discussions about provocative questions Small groups explore new horizons in Strengthening Families…

3. revolutionizing professional development Multiple options for learning about SF attitudes and values. Focus on child within family and community across developmental stages. Normative practice: reflective, informal, and formal learning opportunities

4. protective factors ages 0-25 Ensure alignment and collaboration around the PFs across the lifespan among communities, families and organizations. Value and foster authentic engagement of all types of families in developing culturally relevant strategies and solutions for building PFs in families and communities. Maintain existing PFs and incorporate or create research-based, developmentally appropriate strategies and practices for multiple disciplines.

5. building community assets Intentionally build the protective factors into Promise Neighborhoods; create Strengthening Families Communities. Make sure financial resources align with research and community action. Ask candidates about their positions on Strengthening Families.

6. building evidence for strengthening families Develop consistent framework and language around evaluation that matches appropriate evaluative techniques to parts of our theory of change. Create an evaluation consortium to determine what else we need/want to know: (share through webinars, listserves and tools) Create a structured approach to alternative, non-evaluative evidence building.

7. can strengthening families become a common framework? Develop concrete materials to help educate people across multiple levels including legislators, administrators, and front line. Have a shared message with common language that promotes broad community change. Create policies that ensure parents are full partners at every level.

8. uncovering informal supports Develop community assessment tool and use to promote public awareness. Identify and validate informal supports as part of the SF approach. Engage whole communities through traditional grass roots methods, social marketing and other new techniques.

9. new partners – who and why? Strengthen and sustain existing network partners. Issue invitations to a range of other partners with similar values about social justice. Develop common language that is appealing and understandable to all potential new partners.

10. www.wordle.net

13. Train professionals to develop, support and maintain full partnerships with families at all levels.

15. Reach out to non-traditional partners through more effective “common language” communication.

17. Continue work to create collaboration across child welfare and early childhood.