Child and Family Protective Factors

The following indicators measure the conditions and characteristics of children and families that evidence suggests protect against abuse and neglect. Existing data limits the available measures, which focus more on how the community is providing opportunities for families to build protective factors rather than the strengths of families and children themselves.

Financial solvency and access to concrete supports.

• Number of successful job placements that allow people to reduce their exposure to residential expenses to below 30 percent of income.
• Number of people seeking foreclosure counseling who remained in their home or successfully sold their home in satisfaction of all attached debts.
• Number of financial education, credit and financial literacy seminars given in the area.
• Percentage of families receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit, TANF cash assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, child care subsidies, Medicaid and/or SCHIP coverage.
• Percentage of single mothers with a high school diploma or higher degree.
• Percentage of TANF families enrolled in GED training and job skills/employment programs.
• Percentage of families with an unemployed member collecting unemployment benefits.

Knowledge of parenting and child development.

• Percentage of families enrolled in home visiting programs in a given area.
• Number child care centers and family child care providers in a given area that are accredited or receive a high rating in a state quality rating system.
• Professional experience level and staff turnover rate at parent education, family support centers.
• Percentage of noncustodial parents paying child support receiving job training and family coaching (can be accessed through local court systems).
• Percentage of parents who read to their children regularly.
• Number of children who are evaluated for developmental delays and learning disabilities, and the percentage of eligible children who are participating in early intervention programs.
• Number of children in foster care enrolled in early childhood programs.

Social connections.

• Percentage of runaway youth that have been reunited with a family member.
• Number of parks, libraries and museums in a given area.
• Number of families participating in community social institutions.
• High school graduation and dropout recovery rates in a given area.
• Number of families participating in home visiting programs in a given area.
• Percentage of families with limited access to transportation (public or private) in a given area.
• Availability of support services (e.g., prenatal care, substance abuse and domestic violence counseling, child health centers).

Children’s social and emotional development.

• Number children attending an accredited nursery school, pre-K, or Head Start program.
• Number of children who are screened for socio-emotional well-being and who receive appropriate services from licensed providers.