The Five Protective Factors
Parental Resilience |
Social Connections |
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development |
Concrete Support in Times of Need |
Children's Social and Emotional Development |
Back to Introduction
Social Connections
- Helping parents build constructive friendships and other positive connections can reduce their isolation, which is a consistent risk factor in child abuse and neglect. Isolation is a problem in particular for family members who are in crisis or need intensive help, such as victims of domestic violence.
- Social connections build parents’ “social capital,” their network of others in the community—family, friends, neighbors, churches, etc.—whom they can call on for help solving problems.
- Social connections also enable parents to develop and reinforce community norms about behavior. Norms against violence help reduce child abuse and neglect.
- Friendships lead to mutual assistance in obtaining resources that all families need from time to time, including transportation, respite child care, and other tangible assistance as well as emotional support.
How Early Care and Education Programs Build It
- Potluck dinners with parents and children
- Sports activities for parents
- Parent education classes and workshops
- Helping parents connect with organizations and resources outside the program (e.g., helping them find a church)
- Special outreach and activities for fathers, grandparents, and other extended family members
