Building Resilient Families: A Q&A Recap on CAP Month
As April is winding down, we at PCA Cobb want to take a moment to reflect on this month and all of the efforts made to support Child Abuse Prevention. We had many opportunities to come together, with the community and our partners; to raise awareness, have conversations, and support child abuse prevention.
This work is so vital to ensuring that our communities have strong, healthy and, happy families. Expanding protective factors and positive experiences in a child’s life is key to families being healthy and resilient. We want to thank PCA Georgia for their guidance and leadership in the space of prevention.
An important member of the PCA Georgia team shared some insightful responses regarding CAP month and how to move forward in doing prevention work, with the theme of “Building a Hopeful Future Together” in mind.
Kendra Cole, MPA, is the Project Coordinator for Strengthening Families Georgia, an initiative of Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Georgia, where she leads the statewide initiative for supporting organizations on the implementation of the Strengthening Families Protective Factors. With years of experience, she passionately advocates for social policies related to family welfare and well-being. Her outreach includes training professionals and caregivers on family advocacy, education equity, child abuse prevention and, socioeconomic stability. In addition, Kendra is a certified Mandated Reporting trainer, SAFE certified to conduct home studies for fostering and adoption, and a National Family Support Network Standards trainer who is actively involved in various community organizations such as the Georgia Family Support Network, Black Child Development Institute – Atlanta, Georgia Essentials for Childhood, and Project F.R.E.E.
We know the theme for this CAP month is Building a Hopeful Future Together. As we’re nearing the end of CAP Month, how has PCA Georgia seen communities come together to support children and families?
Absolutely! The support from the community during CAP month has been truly remarkable. We have witnessed local businesses, organizations, media outlets, and individuals coming together to raise awareness for child abuse prevention. Whether it’s through sharing educational tools and resources, wearing blue, or displaying pinwheels, the community has shown a strong commitment to equipping families to tackle challenges. PCA Georgia recently sponsored the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, where we connected with thousands of families and community stakeholders, spreading our mission of prevention. In addition, through internal collaboration, PCA Georgia created its first coloring book for children and families, promoting healthy outcomes. This book adopts the Strengthening Families approach into the story, making it an especially significant professional achievement of mine. This collective action is what CAP month is all about – a true demonstration of unity for the well-being of our children.
What does Building a Hopeful Future Together look like outside of CAP month and how can it be implemented in prevention work moving forward?
“Building a Hopeful Future Together” extends far beyond this month. Within the framework of the Strengthening Families™ initiative, the focus remains unwavering on raising awareness, , advocating, and educating the public about the importance of family strengthening and integrating protective factors that benefit families. Our ongoing efforts include advocating for policies and programs that prioritize the strengthening of families. Essential to this is our ongoing work with community partners which include school systems, community and faith-based organizations, or health/public health, juvenile courts, and other state agencies. None of us could do this work alone. Strengthening Families Georgia (SFG) has nearly 80 partnerships with organizations statewide to deliver comprehensive support to children and families, serving as a vital resource and support system. It is “together” that we’re able to build hopeful futures across our great state, and the value of this collaboration is immeasurable.
How does prioritizing positive experiences in a child’s life increase resilience for the child and family? Would you consider that a key factor in prevention work?
This is such a great question, mainly because prioritizing positive experiences is absolutely a key factor in prevention work. When a child’s life is infused with positive experiences, it can dramatically improve their capacity for resilience. This means they’re better able to deal with challenges and bounce back from adversity. Building memories of positive interactions within the family also reinforces family bonds that are necessary for a child’s sense of security and self-worth. These elements are critical in the prevention of child abuse and neglect because a strong, well-supported family is the best defense against harm. Through our work, we see time and again that a focus on positivity and resilience can transform lives.
Can you explain what Strengthening Families Georgia focuses on and the role it plays in prevention work?
I consider Strengthening Families Georgia to be at the forefront of our prevention initiatives at PCA Georgia. The Strengthening Families™ initiative, developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, is a research-informed approach that centers around integrating five Protective Factors into work with families and children. Protective factors function as a buffer, offering a critical line of defense for families facing challenges. These protective factors encompass promoting parent resilience, fostering social connections within communities, understanding, and supporting healthy child development, modeling positive social and emotional behaviors for children, and ensuring families have access to concrete support in times of need. SFG serves as a resource and support in the form of training, technical assistance, and advocacy, aiming to integrate a family-strengthening approach across various systems and within communities. This comprehensive approach ensures that Georgia families have the tools, networks, and support they need to thrive, thereby reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect. SFG’s focus is on equipping professionals and parent leaders to effectively disseminate this framework as they engage with families within their organizations and communities. It’s our way of leveraging our reach within communities across the state.
Is there anything else you want to highlight or add about CAP month, Strengthening Families Georgia, or supporting children and family resilience?
Of course! While CAP month is a focal point on our calendar, it’s essential to remember that child abuse prevention is a 365-day mission. One important aspect is sharing and celebrating the success stories that often go unnoticed. These narratives not only bring hope but also demonstrate the tangible impact of our collective efforts. Additionally, it’s vital to recognize and commend the dedication of those in the field: the social workers, volunteers, educators, and all advocates for children’s welfare. Their unwavering
commitment forms the backbone of this work. Lastly, I would encourage everyone to stay engaged with
the efforts of the SFG initiative in our state and PCA Georgia. Whether it’s through CAP month initiatives
or other year-round opportunities, everyone has a role in crafting a safe and encouraging atmosphere for our children to grow and flourish.
Prevention work is just that. Prevention. It is implementing protective factors and positive experiences, as Kendra mentioned, that can change a child’s life and ultimately nourish a family. We hope this CAP month inspired you to take action so that all children and families can thrive.
We are so appreciative of Kendra Cole and the rest of the team at PCA Georgia, for all they do in this necessary work. To learn more about PCA Georgia and find resources, check out their webpage. To learn more about PCA Cobb or to donate to PCA Cobb’s fundraiser for CAP month, visit our webpage.