In 2007, the Parent Café process was created by Strengthening Families Illinois to educate family members/family leaders on the five research-based Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors that keep children safe and families strong. Be Strong Families further refined and developed the process. The purpose of Be Strong Parent Cafés is to provide an environment in which parents and family members can build protective factors through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning. The model is based on the principles of adult learning and family support and builds family member leadership. Through the efforts of the PA Strengthening Families Leadership Team with funding support from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and facilitated by the Center for Schools and Communities, Pennsylvania has offered learning opportunities since 2016 to encourage more communities to use this forum for engage family members. The Center for Schools and Communities serves as a Certified Training Partner of Be Strong Families and offers a variety of courses related to the model.
Through multi-day institutes local teams consisting of organizational staff and family members attend institutes to learn more about the Parent Café process and are certified to implement cafés in their communities.
For more information about creating a community team, please contact PA Strengthening Families.
Team Certification Courses
Be Strong Parent Café Training Institute (PCTI)
This two-day, in-person course certifies local teams to plan and deliver place-based Be Strong Parent Cafés. Participants review the anatomy of the café, explore the protective factors, practice skills for hosting cafes, and learn how to create a safe and welcoming ambiance that encourages guests to share. This learning opportunity is hands-on and interactive with participants planning and delivering a full café before certification. Teams are asked to commit to delivering cafes following their training, participate in evaluation activities, and engage with an instructor TA for support.
Be Strong Parent Café Training Institute – Online (PCTI-O)
The Be Strong Parent Café Institute Online (PCTI-O) is a three-day experiential and highly interactive online institute that prepares Participants discuss and reflect on the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors, review the anatomy of the café, explore the technology aspects of hosting a café online, and learn how to create a safe, welcoming virtual space for participants. Teams are asked to commit to delivering cafes following their training, participate in evaluation activities, and engage with an instructor TA for support.
Courses for Certified Teams to Enhance Implementation
Hosting Meaningful Café Conversations
This course (delivered in-person and online) dives deep into the role of the table/room host. This course helps participants sharpen hosting skills and provides the opportunity to practice how to keep the conversation flowing and create a safe space where all have a chance to share.
Building Protective Factors through Parent Cafés
This course (delivered in-person and online) focuses on expanding participants’ knowledge of the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors framework and how family members can identify and build on their strengths to create nurturing and safe environments for their families. During the course participants reflect on the protective factors in their own lives and how to share their stories.
Taking Your Cafes Online in Pennsylvania
This course is intended for teams that have been certified to deliver place-based cafes that would like to offer online cafes. Participants review the anatomy of cafes, explore the nuances of delivering cafes online, and review the technological aspects of virtual cafés.
Place-based Parent Café Crossover Course
This course is intended for teams that have been certified to deliver online cafes that would like to offer place-based cafes. Participants review the anatomy of cafes, explore the differences of delivering cafes in-person, and explore how to create ambiance and welcoming space.
Online Journey to Vitality Café Course
The Vitality Café offers opportunities for participants to reflect on the ways a given Vitality Domain plays a role in their lives, and to talk with peers prompted by conversation questions similar to the Parent Café conversations focused on the Protective Factors. This course defines the Domains of Vitality (Physical, Mental and Emotional, Spiritual, Financial, Environmental and Social), explores their relationship with the Protective Factors and teaches teams how to conduct a Journey to Vitality Café. Teams must be certified to deliver online cafes to attend and this course provides certification to deliver Vitality Cafés in your community in an online format only.