Strengths-based practice: a community speaks

Abstract

The University of Maryland, Baltimore - Center for Families, Family Connections Program evaluated the process and outcomes of implementing the Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities: A Violence Prevention Parent Training Program (SMEFC) with families at risk of child neglect. Families resided in the West Baltimore Empowerment Zone that is comprised of distressed neighborhoods filled with high levels of crime, violence, and substance abuse. In addition to the opportunity to participate in the SMEFC program, families received home-based intervention consisting of emergency assistance, individualized home-based counseling services, and service facilitation/coordination. The intervention was designed to help families increase child safety and well-being and prevent child neglect within their families. It was hypothesized that this combination of services individualized to each family’s specific strengths and needs, would reduce risk factors and increase protective factors, ultimately leading to the achievement of two outcomes: child safety and child well-being. (from Project abstract)