Strengthening Families Tennessee through Early Care and Education

Article One in a Series of Seven

Strengthening Families is a proven, cost-effective strategy to promote healthy families, engage parents in leadership roles, assist parents in understanding child development, and prevent child abuse and neglect. 

Across the country, early child care and education programs and providers are using the Strengthening Families approach to build Protective Factors in all families.  At these programs, Parents feel valued, families are supported, and social connections keep families strong.

Research shows that the Five Protective Factors are crucial in keeping families healthy, happy, and resilient:

• Build parental resiliency by helping parents learn to be strong, yet flexible, during times of stress
• Develop stronger social connections with people who will support your parenting technique or skills
• Learn more about child development and new parenting skills
• Reveive clear and helpful support in time of need, including access to necessary services, such as mental health
• Children have healthy social and emotional development -- they feel loved, a sense of belonging, and can get along with others

Strengthening Families Tennessee is a partnership between numerous State agencies and non-profit organizations including Tennessee Children's Trust Fund, Department of Human Services, Signal Centers, Inc., and the Child Care Resource & Referral Network.  It is overseen by a diverse steering committee of professionals and parents who care about Tennessee families.  Together, these individuals and groups are showing that small but significant changes in everyday work have the power to mobilize extraordinary resources to strengthen families. 

There are eleven Parenting Liaisons across the State of Tennessee located in each of the ten Child Care Resource & Referral regions.  Parenting Liaisons will work with early child care providers, parents, and teen parents to assist them with the Strengthening Families approach to build the Protective Factors in all families.

To learn more about how you can be a leader in Strengthening Families Tennessee:

• Visit www.strengtheningfamilies.net
• Take a FREE on-line assessment that can help you determine your program's strategies to build the Protective Factors known to strengthen families
• Attend a TN-CCPT training to learn how to implement strategies.  Activities that build the Protective Factors can be built into early care and education programs that already exist in every state at little or no cost.  Most strategies do not require new staff positions, major physical changes to facility, or the draining of financial resources.
• Send a clear and consistent message that the Program cares about the entire family, not just children
• Contact your local CCR&R for more information

Strengthening Families Tennessee will result in safe and healthy children, strong and stable families, and thriving and prosperous communities.