Minnesota’s Strengthening

FamiliesMinnesota Department of

Human Services

Ready 4 K’s Build Initiative

Strengthening Families funded by Doris Duke began as a search for a new approach to child abuse prevention that:

Is systematic

Is national

Reaches large numbers of children

Has impact long before abuse or neglect occurs

Promotes optimal development for all children

national partner organizations

Foundations: Casey Family Programs, Annie E. Casey, Arthur L. Mailman, Arthur Blank Family Foundation

Strengthening Families has inspired a new approach to family support services that is:

Universally available, not targeted by risk

Focused on development and growth, not only on

identified problems

Delivered through new, powerful partners not typically identified as

Child Abuse and Neglect prevention or family

support agents

parental resilience

Psychological health; parents feel supported and able to solve problems; can develop trusting relationships with others and reach out for helpParents who did not have positive childhood experiences or who are in troubling circumstances need extra support and trusting relationships

social connectionsRelationships with extended family, friends, co-workers, other parents with children similar ages

Community norms are developed through social connections

Mutual assistance networks: child care, emotional support, concrete help

knowledge of parenting and child development

Basic information about how children develop

Basic techniques of developmentally appropriate disciplineAlternatives to parenting behaviors experienced as a child

Help with challenging behaviors

concrete supports

Response to a crisis: food, clothing, shelter

Assistance with daily needs: health care, job

opportunities, transportation, education

Services for parents: mental health, domestic

violence, substance abuse

Specialized services for children

social and emotional developmentNormal development (like using language to express needs and feelings) creates more positive parent-child interactions

Challenging behaviors, traumatic experiences or development that is not on track require extra adult attention

A Surprise: What learning in a classroom does for families back at home

Minnesota Department of Human ServicesStrengthening Families Work Commissioner Cal Ludeman publicly addresses

needs of Children and Families in an SF framework

Strengthening Families Orientation of Children and Family Services – Creating a Roadmap to incorporate throughout administration

Community Partnerships/Child Safety and Permanency are a National Strengthening Families Affiliate

Children’s Trust Fund orients: all contracts around SF tenets: 16 statewide grantees, 52 Child Abuse Prevention Councils, Evaluation

Contact Information

For more information contact:

Zoe Nicholie/Kat Kempe ( Ready 4K) 651.644.8138

Joanne Mooney – Children’s Trust Fund 651.431.3879