Brief
This mixed-method evaluation examined five community-based initiatives in Washington State intended to prevent child maltreatment and exposure to toxic stress, mitigate their effects, and improve child and youth development outcomes. The study had two phases. During the first phase (2013–2014), the research team assessed operational contexts, strategies used to increase community capacity to prevent ACEs, and impact at the county level. In the second phase (2015–2016), the researchers examined the extent to which sites developed capacity to achieve their goals, and the relationship of select…
Brief
This brief discusses the relationship between family-of-origin factors and future perpetration of sexual coercion. Research shows that children's experiences growing up, such as a negative interparental relationship quality and harsh or inconsistent parenting, can lead to feelings of entitlement, which means children believe they deserve special treatment. Feelings of entitlement were associated with a higher likelihood of perpetrating sexual coercion in a study of male college students. This brief discusses these findings and how practitioners can help parents create a positive foundation…
Brief
This brief explains the Two-Generation (Two-Gen) approach for working with families builds well-being by creating a solid and stable foundation through integrated, intensive, and high-quality services in four areas of focus: early childhood education, elementary education, economic stability, and family engagement. It discusses findings from a research study that explored how three States (Connecticut, Colorado, and Utah) are development and implementing a Two-Gen framework in practice and how support for an intentional Two-Gen approach can be translated into a coordinated implementation…
Brief
This research brief addresses the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on children, approaches to serving children exposed to IPV, and symptoms of exposure to IPV. It explains the dynamics of IPV and explores factors that can influence the level of impact a child experiences. Implications for providers, including “red flags” and resources, are also included.
Brief
When fathers are actively engaged in their children’s lives, their children experience improved mental, emotional, educational, and social outcomes. The Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Division of the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) launched the Fatherhood EFFECT program in 2015 to encourage and support healthy father engagement through providing evidence-based fatherhood programs in three communities across the state. The Child and Family Research Partnership (CFRP) is evaluating the success of the EFFECT program through a mixed-method approach. One method to…
Brief
Based on qualitative interviews with a group of responsible fatherhood program participants, this brief focuses on fathers’ perspectives on co-parenting, specifically: the nature of their co-parenting relationship; changes in their co-parenting relationships; and efforts they made to obtain formal agreements for visitation, custody, or parenting time. Each interviewee participated in one of these four responsible fatherhood programs: The Center for Fathering at Urban Ventures (Minneapolis, Minnesota); The Family Formation Program at Fathers’ Support Center (St. Louis, Missouri); Successful…
Brief
This brief explains the importance of incorporating father involvement in Strengthening Families programs designed to increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. It explains strategies that programs can be encouraged to use, including employing men as staff members in varied positions and in significant roles, creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of all family members, consistently communicating with both fathers and mothers on all issues concerning their children – and making this policy explicit to both…
Brief
This brief describes the five protective factors that are the foundation of the Strengthening Families Approach: parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting and child development, and social and emotional competence of children. It explains the Strengthening Families Approach benefits all families building on family strengths, can be implemented through small but significant changes in everyday actions, can build on existing programs, and is grounded in research. A chart shows levers, strategies, protective factors, and results of the…
Brief
This brief begins by explaining what is meant by evidence-based programs, the development of criteria by different organizations to rate program effectiveness, and common elements. The difference between evidence-based practices and evidence-based programs is discussed, as well as the history of evidence-based programs and legislation that has been passed that support evidence-based programs. Examples of evidence-based programs are then profiled and include: Nurse-Family Partnership, High/Scope Petty Preschool Program, and the Incredible Years. Following sections address: strategies…
Brief
Designed for programs seeking to engage men and fathers, this brief explains the impact exposure to violence can cause on children and the harm that can result unless they receive support to help them cope and heal. The warning signs of exposure to violence are listed for children ages 5 and younger, children ages 6-12 years, and teenagers ages 13-18. The importance of fathers' engagement with their children to prevent and reduce the impact of exposure to violence is stressed, and the following recommendations are made for programs for engaging fathers: develop protocols to response…
