Parental Resilience
ANFRC and the Family Resource Centers in its network employ the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework in their work with children and families. This research-based approach shows that children thrive when their families are adequately supported. Strengthening Families reduces the likelihood of child abuse and neglect as well as increases a family’s chances at economic and emotional security by focusing on five key protective factors:
Parental resilience
Social connections
Knowledge of parenting and child development
Concrete support in times of need
Social and emotional competence of children
This month, ANFRC is focusing on parental resilience and how it can strengthen families. Challenges and hardship are inescapable in life, but resilience enables people to bounce back from tough times, sometimes transformed for the better. Resilient parents respond to difficult situations with empathy and the ability and willingness to problem solve.
As community based organizations, our FRCs have several ways they work to help parents build resilience:
They work to show parents that they’re valued partners in caring for their children and families.
They honor each family’s identity, whether it’s their race or ethnicity, language, culture, personal history, or approach to parenting.
They encourage and support parents in the attempt to manage their stress healthily and effectively.
They help parents build their leadership and decision-making skills as well as honor their role as decision-makers for the family.
They support parents in the attempt to buffer children from stressful situations.
All families encounter challenges and many who are referred to family resource centers are dealing with acute issues or crises. By employing the Strengthening Families framework, FRCs help parents develop the resilience they need to support their children through tough times and take challenges in stride.
