Our social services component of family-based intervention, with staff trained in risk assessment, is designed to help all families improve functioning and achieve economic independence.

Our Better Beginnings Strengthening Families Initiative is designed specifically to prevent child abuse and neglect by offering Protective Factors to families of children enrolled in the centers.  These Protective Factors are to support and strengthen families and to provide special help to those that may be at risk of abuse and neglect.  Parents have opportunities to attend monthly workshops, parent meetings, and other center sponsored activitiess. 

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

• PARENTAL RESILIENCE
• SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
• KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
• CONCRETE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED
• HEALTHY SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CHILDREN)

 STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT PROTECTIVE FACTORS:

 FACILITATE FRIENDSHIPS AND MUTUAL SUPPORT

Staff will develop a warm, welcoming, and positive climate at the center and make available opportunities for parents to meet and interact with each other through social connections at the center (family luncheons, holiday celebrations, volunteering in the classrooms, etc.).

STRENGTHEN PARENTING

Staff will support and educate parents through a coordination of activities that will involve parenting information, opportunities to observe their children, opportunities to participate in meetings and workshops.  A parent resource library is available at all centers stocked with books, brochures, magazines, CDs, videos, newsletters, and other information on developmental challenges and ages and stages of development.

RESPOND TO FAMILY CRISIS

Staff will provide support and resources for crisis intervention and have available immediate information about community resources.

LINK FAMILIES TO SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Each family will complete a family needs survey at enrollment and develop a plan of action.  Staff will link families to available resources or services to meet their individual needs (GED, health, mental health,  employment, financial or legal issues, housing, services for children with special needs, child care, and other social services).

FACILITATE CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Gate City will ensure that the program will address the social and emotional development of children through the curriculum and in the classroom.  Teachers will meet each child's social and emotional needs by helping them gain a trust of othres, gain independence, self control and self confidence.  Parents will be encouraged to see the connection for supporting, reinforcing, and fostering their child's social and emotional learning in their homes.

OBSERVE AND RESPOND TO EARLY WARNING SIGNS

All staff will be trained on Child Abuse Prevention which will include how to recognize the early warnnig signs of child abuse and neglect.  Staff will monitor any physical signs or behavioral signs in children, as well as any unusual pattersn, changes in habits, and other changes that might occur with the parent.  Staff will report any signs of abuse or neglect to the Department of Family and Children Services.

VALUE AND SUPPORT PARENTS

Staff will create an atmosphere at the centers where parents will feel valued, respected and comfortable coming to the center.  Parents will have opportunities to evaluate the program.