Prevention Month is COMING SOON!
At its core, PRIMARY PREVENTION is when we use upstream thinking --before challenges occur-- to identify and employ strategies that prevent negative impacts for individuals, families, and whole communities. In the case of child abuse and neglect, we do that by partnering with families to help them build on strengths they already have, as well as connect to other adults and resources so to ensure that if challenges do occur, they can remain resilient.
It's important to recognize that prevention means partnering in community-wide efforts to increase awareness and investment in what research shows us is clear: PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE
Children and families are the foundation of our communities, and when they are safe, strong, and supported, WE ALL BENEFIT. Contact your local FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER to strengthen your family today!
How can we partner in PREVENTION?
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Recognizing each day as an opportunity to build the foundation for our future.
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Committing to the work that is building healthy communities.
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Addressing inequity and injustice so to support safe, stable, and nurturing environments.
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Creating programs & policies that put families first.
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Building positive childhood experiences that support healthy families and strong communities.
The impact of each of these examples travels from ourselves and our relationships with others to our community and society at large.
This pathway is called the social-ecological model, and when we implement these preventative factors at each level, everyone benefits.
And these preventative factors have a name—the 5 Protective Factors:
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Parental Resilience
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Social Connections
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Concrete Support in Times of Need
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Social and Emotional Competence of Children
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Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
When these factors are present and robust at the individual, relational, community, and society levels, we can begin to see a future where families are their strongest and all children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments.
But what does family joy have to do with this ...
Moments of Joy
When we build protective factors in our lives, we can make space for joy in our own families and in the lives of others.
By creating (or even recognizing) moments of joy, we allow for stressors to decrease and resilience to increase, and in that space, good things happen.
The best part: joy can start anywhere. On a couch, in the checkout line, anywhere. So let’s see if we can’t spread a little to a family in your neighborhood.
Speaking Engagements
The NHCT team would LOVE to spread the word about primary prevention, how you can BE PREVENTION at home, work, or in your community, as well as this little but mighty thing called joy.
And we can COME TO YOU! Simply send an email to communications@nhchildrenstrust.org to request a presentation today. And don't worry: we are flexible, tech-savvy, and surprisingly entertaining.
Wear Blue!
Mark your calendars! Friday, April 5th, is #WearBlueDay2024. Wear your favorite blue outfit to help us share the message that by strengthening families, we can create nurturing environments for children that PREVENT!
We all have a role to play. Take a picture and send it to communications@nhchildrenstrust.org to be featured on our feeds, or tag us @nhchildrenstrust!
Check out our catalog of content to share, engage with, and learn how we can all BE PREVENTION!
Resources include our social media content matrix, Prevention Month Resource Guide, Parent Activity Calendar, #Unselfie Template, and more!
Check out our Media List!
With various media recommended by NHCT Programs staff, there is something for everyone to explore the importance of prevention! DOWNLOAD
Thank you to our Partners in Prevention!
