The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Secondary), but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given either a Scientific Rating or a Child Welfare Relevance Rating.

• Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified
• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: All families with young children; families under stress.

The Strengthening Families initiative is a research-based, cost-effective strategy to prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening and supporting families. This initiative, which has been implemented in over 30 states, helps early childhood centers work with families to build five protective factors shown by research to correlate with child abuse and neglect prevention: Parental resilience, parental social connections, parental knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete parental support in times of need, and healthy social and emotional child development.