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The Self Assessment is the primary tool of the Strengthening Families approach. Based on a field study of 21 exemplary Strengthening Families programs, the Self Assessment is designed to help early care and education professionals identify concrete and practical ways of incorporating the strengthening families model in their day-to-day work.
The self-assessment materials are applicable to early childhood programs of any size, budget, or structure, and most of the strategies described can be implemented without creating new staff positions, making significant changes to existing facilities, or raising additional financial resources. The Self Assessment materials are organized around the following strategies used by exemplary programs to support families:
1. Facilitate friendships and mutual support
2. Strengthen parenting
3. Respond to family crises
4. Link families to services and opportunities
5. Facilitate children’s social and emotional development
6. Observe and respond to early warning signs of child abuse or neglect
7. Value and support parents
The Self Assessment is not a test that a program can pass or fail. Rather, the Self Assessment is designed to be a learning and reflection tool that will help you evaluate your program in the seven areas listed above.
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