The information in these slides was shared by Carrie Scurggs, ECE Consultant for The Source for Learning, Inc at the annual Raising the Bar Early Care & Education Conference 2017 in Virginia Beach, VA on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The slides review the five protective factors of the Strengthening Families approach, consider how community partnerships can support this approach, and a template for creating a Partnership Plan.

1. Creating Partnerships that Support Families
at Your Early Childhood Program
Carrie Scruggs
ECE Consultant
The Source for Learning, Inc.
The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives

2. Today’s Objectives
 Review the five protective factors of the Strengthening Family Approach.
 Consider how community partnerships can support the Strengthening
Families Approach
 Create a Partnership Plan for your early childhood program by considering
goals and anticipated outcomes.
The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives

3. The Strengthening Families Approach
The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives

4. All Families
have Strengths

5. Goals of the Strengthening Families Approach
Create a
child abuse and
neglect prevention
framework
Create a
widespread
understanding of
programs to promote
healthy child
development
The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives

6. The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives
Don’t Judge, just love!

7. 1
2
3 Concrete support
4
Social Connections
5 Social & Emotional
Competence
Five
Protective
Factors
Parent Resilience
Knowledge of Parenting and
Child Development

8. Parent
Resilience
Getting through circumstances.

9. Social
Connections
Network of people who care, listen,
and offer help!

10. Concrete
Support
Access to resources: financial help,
housing, mental health, health care,
etc.

11. Knowledge
of Parenting
and Child
Development
Child development, parenting skills,
and strategies for guiding behaviors.

12. Social and
Emotional
Competence
Ability of children to cope with
feelings.

13. Resources
The Source for Learning – ECE Initiatives
1 Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior
www.challengingbehavior.org
2 Center for the Study of Social Policy
www.cssp.org/doris_duke/resources/index.html
3 Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
www.csefel.uiuc.edu

14. Resources
The Source for Learning – ECE Initiatives
4 Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
www.ddcf.org
5 Zero to Three
www.zerotothree.org/partneringwithparents

15. Community
Partnerships that support
the Strengthening Families
Approach

16. Qualities of Strong Partnerships
Two way interactions
& commitment
Strengths that
complement each
other
Equal sense of
Power

17. Who do you want as
partners?

18. Identify Gaps in Services
The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives

19. Building Strong Partnerships
Be
Approachable
Show
Respect
Commit

20. Principles of Successful Partnerships
Clearly write out
the roles and
expectations of
each partner
Develop a mutual
trust
04
03
02
01
Commit to the
collaboration for a
set period of time
Have common
goals
Always have current
contact info06
05
Develop a
communication plan
for check in, referrals,
and follow-up

21. Approaching Potential Partners
Network Coordinate
Cooperate Collaborate

22. Network
 Explore
 Share Information
 Be open to initial contact
 Reach out

23. Coordinate
 Informal Relationship
 Both agencies align their
respective services
 Agencies may work together on
short-term projects

24. Cooperate
 Agencies may work independently
while working towards a common
goal
 Agencies may share resources
and/or facilities
 Formal systems in place

25. Collaborate
 Agencies work together to create a
new enhanced project or program
 Agencies commit to a common
mission
 Agencies share the benefit of the
project/program

26. Being Proactive in Creating Partnerships
Place yourself in
strategic community
roles
Present at
businesses,
nonprofits, & social
groups in the
community
Invite others to
coffee or lunch
Always have
business cards

27. Common Community
Partners
Head Start/Early Head
Start
United Way
Community
Centers
Other early
childhood
programs
YMCA
County Health
Departments

28. Create a Partnership Plan
The Source for Learning, Inc. | ECE Initiatives

29. Resources
The Source for Learning – ECE Initiatives
1 Protecting Children by Strengthening Families: A Guidebook for Early Childhood
Programs, The Center for the Study of Social Policy, Washington D.C.
2 Strengthening Families: Community Strategies that Work, NAEYC, Washington D.C.
www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200703/BTJOlson.pdf
3 Neugebauer, B. and Neugebauer, R. 200. The Art of Leadership: Leading Early Childhood
Programs, Exchange Press, Redmond, WA. (Becoming Community Center)

30. Questions?
Need to connect with us regarding these
Early Childhood Education Initiatives?
Email: ece-pd@sflinc.org
www.sourceforlearning.org/ecei
www.sourceforlearning.org/vaecap
www.preschoolfirst.com
Phone: 866-584-2900