{"id":37291,"date":"2017-10-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging2.threadalaska.org\/thread-blog\/strengthening-families-initiative-gaining-momentum-3\/"},"modified":"2017-10-13T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-13T16:00:00","slug":"strengthening-families-initiative-gaining-momentum-3","status":"publish","type":"thread-blog","link":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/thread-blog\/strengthening-families-initiative-gaining-momentum-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening Families Initiative Gaining Momentum"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tthread <\/strong>Board member and Strengthening Families consultant Shirley Pittz recently highlighted the important work that Strengthening Families Alaska is doing across the state. thread <\/strong>recognizes the value of the Strengthening Families framework and provides trainings for early childhood educators around the five protective factors and family engagement. Learn about the strides that Strengthening Families Alaska is making is this blog post by Ms. Pittz, which was originally published on the ACT blog<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n\tStrengthening FamiliesTM<\/sup> is an effort to help families give their children what they need to thrive.<\/strong> It\u2019s about parents taking advantage of their unique strengths and ensuring they have the skills and supports they need to make sure their children \u2013 and family as a whole \u2013 are safe, secure and happy. The outcomes that Strengthening Families programs strive to achieve are strong families, optimal child development and the prevention of child maltreatment.<\/p>\n

\n\tStrengthening Families Alaska<\/a> (SFA) is supported by the Early Childhood Comprehensive System Program<\/a> (ECCS) in the Department of Health and Social Services and a leadership team consisting of several statewide stakeholder organizations. During FY17, SFA has focused on the Norton Sound Region, Kodiak Island and the Mat-Su Valley. Efforts are underway to embed the Strengthening Families \u201cframework\u201d across agencies and service sectors.<\/strong> In Kodiak, Kodiak Area Native Association<\/a> (KANA) is leading the way. In the Norton Sound Region it is the Norton Sound Health Corporation<\/a> and in the Mat-Su Valley it is the Mat-Su Health Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tSFA efforts are supported by the University of Alaska Anchorage Child Welfare Academy <\/a>(CWA). CWA has several certified trainers who can deliver the two-day intensive Strengthening Families training<\/strong> developed by the National Alliance of Children\u2019s Trust and Prevention Funds<\/a>. In addition to the regions discussed above, in FY17, training was provided to service providers in Bethel, 30 behavioral health aides at the ANTHC<\/a> Annual BHS Symposium, RurAL CAP<\/a> family advocates, Office of Children\u2019s Services<\/a> grantees, and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault<\/a>. To date, the CWA has trained over 300 people in this approach!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tPrimary care providers received some focused attention this year since parents frequently look to them for reassurance and guidance<\/strong> on child and family issues. In November 2016, the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership<\/a> (A2P2) rolled out a Strengthening Families Toolkit for Primary Care Providers<\/a><\/em> that was developed with funding provided through a grant from Alaska Children\u2019s Trust<\/a>. An accompanying two-hour training was also developed and offered at the fall Pediatric Symposium in Anchorage. Additionally training on the Toolkit<\/em> was provided in Juneau and Fairbanks and on a statewide \u201cLearning Network\u201d webinar.<\/p>\n

\n\tAcross the state, communities and providers are embedding the Strengthening Families approach in the work that they do. \u201cSmall but significant\u201d changes in everyday practice can make a huge difference for families.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tPROTECTIVE FACTORS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tStrengthening Families is built around five \u201cprotective factors.\u201d Protective factors help families succeed and thrive, even in the face of risk and challenges. The protective factors are:<\/p>\n

\n\tParental Resilience <\/strong>\u2013 Be Strong Even When You Are Stressed!<\/em><\/p>\n