Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/supporting-teachers-strengthening-families-a-model-child-abuse-prevention-approach/5017359/
As early childhood educators, we are committed to safeguarding the well-being of all children, and are in a unique position to do so. In recent years, the early childhood profession has expanded its orientation to include intentional efforts to prevent �" not just report �" abuse and neglect. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) generously supports efforts by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), ZERO TO THREE, the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), and others to ground this new intentionality in research and implementation of evidence-based strategies to strengthen families. Supporting Teachers, Strengthening Families is NAEYC’s DDCF-funded, professional development initiative to help early childhood educators play leading roles in preventing child abuse and neglect through family strengthening efforts.The program model
Supporting Teachers, Strengthening Families focuses on six strategies that high-quality early childhood programs and professionals already employ to support and strengthen families. Most of these strategies have always been part of NAEYC’s mission and vision for early childhood education and are reflected in NAEYC’s position statements, code of ethical conduct, conference offerings, and the new Early Childhood Program Standards �" especially the standards on Relationships, Families, and Community. CSSP’s work informed NAEYC’s perspective by ...