What is Place-Based Family Strengthening?
The Annie E. Casey Foundation defines family strengthening as:
“A deliberate and sustained effort to ensure that parents have the necessary opportunities,
relationships, networks and supports to raise their children successfully, which includes involving
parents as decision makers in how their communities meet family needs”
Place-based family strengthening is based on the idea that guides the Casey Foundation's approach to
family and community development:
Children do better when their families are strong, and families do better when they live in
communities that help them to succeed.
This premise is based on two ideas that are central to the family strengthening approach:
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Family is the most fundamental factor influencing the lives and outcomes of children.
Aside from a child's physical needs, such as food and clothing, children also need an emotionally
healthy home environment combined with stable and reliable relationships with adults and caregivers.
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Families are strong when they are supported by safe and thriving neighborhoods. Strong
neighborhoods offer an almost seamless web of vital resources and opportunities such as formal and
informal social networks, employers and public services. By making these networks, economic
opportunities and services more accessible to families, neighborhoods thrive and families have the
supports they need to succeed.
Programs and services comprise a family strengthening approach when they are:
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Family-focused: Policy and services intentionally address the needs of the
family as a whole versus serving only individuals. Initiatives are structured to engage and
support the entire family.
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Place-based: Families are supported to thrive within the context of their
neighborhoods and broader communities. Job and community economic development are built on
local businesses and economic assets unique to each community. Opportunities are created by
utilizing economic assets and vast social networks. Families are able to access public services
comfortably without being stigmatized in their own neighborhoods.
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Collaborative: Partnerships are created across service systems such as health,
education, workforce development; local advocacy groups; community based organizations; city government;
businesses and employers; and the faith community to create a seamless web of services and supports
that address the needs of families. Local realities and the diversity of needs are incorporated
into a flexible and accessible system of services.