Family Strengthening
The Celebrate Children Foundation works in partnership with the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to spread evidence-informed prevention programs and services to communities across the state, while engaging in research to develop innovative approaches. Through resource development, the Foundation expands upon efforts to prevent child maltreatment before it occurs by providing support for prevention programs and maximizing donor contributions to advance practices that build strong children, families, and communities.
Family Strengthening Approach
The most effective and compassionate strategy to ensure the well-being of children is to strengthen and support families. A family strengthening approach focuses on the dynamics and internal resources of the individual family as well as the community and social environment that surrounds it. It emphasizes the importance of assisting all families to sustain health, and of reaching out with additional supports before the family is in crisis and experiencing overwhelming stress.
The programs, services, and approaches supported by the Celebrate Children Foundation focus on primary prevention. Primary prevention strategies seek to address the root causes of child abuse and neglect before it occurs. Strategies are offered to all families universally without identifying their individual level of risk or likelihood of child maltreatment.
Primary prevention seeks to promote the wellbeing of children and families and prevent maltreatment prior to any occurrence.
Annually, the Celebrate Children Foundation Board of Directors allocates funding for specific Prevention Board grants. Below is a list of current initiatives that benefit from the Foundation’s financial support.
Five For Families
Research has identified Five Strengths that benefit every family and can be grown to better prepare and protect the family from adversity, they are also referred to as the “Protective Factors Framework.” The Five for Families campaign translates the more academically worded Protective Factors Framework into language that is more easily understood by those without a child development background. Within the campaign, the Five Strengths and accompanying descriptions are strengths-based and family-centered. A central feature of the campaign is the Five for Families Website. The site has helpful tips for parents and caregivers along with a map to connect with a Family Resource Center.
Five Strengths
Helping Kids Understand Feelings
Parenting as Children Grow
Connecting with Others
Building Inner Strength
Knowing How to Find Help
Protective Factors Framework
Social and Emotional Competence of Children
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
Social Connections
Parental Resilience
Concrete Support in Times of Need
Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Centers (FRCs) throughout Wisconsin facilitate the provision of services and supports that strengthen families. FRCs are community-based or school-based organizations that serve as welcoming hubs of services and opportunities designed to strengthen families. Their activities and programs are typically provided at no or low cost to participants. They reflect and are responsive to the specific needs, cultures and interests of the communities and populations served.
FRCs offer universal, primary prevention services to all families in their service area, using a strengths-based approach and grounding their practice in the Protective Factors/Five Strengths. Learn more.
Parent Education
Providing parents and caregivers with evidence-informed positive parenting strategies and tools to reinforce and build protective factors will increase their knowledge of parenting and child development. Throughout the parenting journey children will change, as will their needs. From crying during the newborn stage, to toilet training, talking, or knowing when a child is ready for chores, all parents have questions and challenges.
Positive parenting practices have enormous impacts on children’s social, emotional, and intellectual development, particularly during the early years. Parenting requires continuous learning and growth to accommodate children’s changing needs. Every family learns as they go.
Two positive parenting techniques supported by the Foundation include:
Parenting on the Go bags
Promoting parents/caregiver reading with their children
