What is a Protective Factor?
A protective factor is a characteristic that makes a parent, child or family more likely to thrive and less likely to experience a negative outcome. It may be helpful to think of protective factors as characteristics that help children and families thrive and help balance any risk factors they may have in their lives.
The Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework is built around five protective factors:
Parental Resilience
Resilience is the process of managing stress and functioning well even when things are difficult. All parents manage different amounts of stress in their daily lives. There are two different components of parental resilience – the ability to cope with stress in general and the ability to parent well in times of stress.
When asked, parents have described this protective factor as:
- I will continue to have courage during stress or after a crisis.
- Resilience = Courage
- Resilience means being strong AND flexible.
Social Connections
Sometimes being a parent can be very stressful. It’s easier to handle parenting challenges when we have positive relationships with family, friends and neighbors. Having a network of caring people in our life helps us feel secure, confident and empowered and helps us become better parents.
When asked, parents have described this protective factor as:
- I have people who know me (friends) and at least one person who supports my parenting.
- Social Connections = Community
- Parents need friends.
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
By learning what our children need to do their best, we can give them the best start in life, enjoy parenting more and build strong, healthy families.
When asked, parents have described this protective factor as:
- I stay curious and am responsive to what my child needs.
- Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development = Health
- Being a great parent is part natural and part learned.
Concrete Supports in Times of Need
All families have times of need, whether it’s the birth of a new child, raising a child with special needs, the loss of a job, finding academic supports or dealing with mental illness, substance abuse or domestic violence. However, knowing where to get help in the community can make things much easier.
When asked, parents have described this protective factor as:
- My family can access basic needs when they need it.
- Concrete Supports in Time of Need = Freedom
- We all need help sometimes.
Social and Emotional Competence of Children
Helping children develop social-emotional competence allows them to manage their emotions and build healthy relationships with their peers and adults. As parents, the things we do to model and help our children learn these skills make a huge difference. Fostering children’s ability to talk, regulating their behavior and interacting positively with others is key to their development.
When asked, parents have described this protective factor as:
- My child feels loved, a sense of belonging and can get along with others.
- Social and Emotional Competence in Children = Compassion
- Social and emotional competence in children means helping your children communicate and give them the love and respect they need.
For more information, download this brochure from the Center for the Study of Social Policy, entitled “Strong Families,” which helps parents understand how to keep their families strong with protective factors explanations and “tune-up tips.”