October 10, 2022

Family Resources Newsletter – October 2022

Dear CDA Families,

Parenting young children is not always an easy task. As a parent who raised three children with completely different personalities, it was challenging to say the least. I was a struggling young parent with limited resources. I didn’t have an understanding or took into account each one of my child’s individual needs or challenges. I remember that despite all the things that put my family at risk, I was connected to a great community-based organization that helped me and my family thrive. There, I developed a base knowledge of parenting and child development and the importance of building protective factors.

The Five Protective Factors are the foundation of the Strengthening Families approach, a research study conducted by the Center for the Study of Social Policy on what can work best for keeping families strong and children safe. The Five Protective Factors include: parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need, and social and emotional competence of children. The research supports the notion that these protective factors help increase family strengths, enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect

All in all, protective factors are the strengths and resources that we use in our family when things become challenging. They help us focus on what is strong instead of what is wrong with our family. It helps us to thrive instead of just survive. Below are the five key Protective Factors briefly defined and tips to help build them:

1) Parental Resilience – I have the ability to bounce back after a crisis and during stressful times.

Tips:
-Seek help in times of need.
-Take time to take care of yourself and reenergize.
-Share your feelings with someone you trust.
-Surround yourself with people who are positive supports.

2) Social Connections – I have positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support, such as family, friends, neighbors, and community members.

Tips:
-Participate in social events that help you and your children connect.
-Build trusted connections in your community.
-Surround yourself with people who are positive supports.

3) Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development – I am always learning new things about child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development.

Tips:
-Schools or community centers are the perfect place for parents to build connections.
-Take a parenting class at a local community center.
-Find people you trust for information about your child, such as your family doctor, your child’s teacher, family, or friends.
-Get involved in your child’s education. Ask questions, attend meetings, volunteer, stay up-to-date, and take interest in your child’s education and progress. The more involved you are in your child’s education, the greater impact you will make for your child to succeed.
-Seek support from other trusted parents.

4) Concrete Support in Times of Need – My family has access to services and supports to meet our basic needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges.

Tips:
-Make a list of people or places to call for support.
-Ask your child’s school to host a Community Resource event so that you and other parents know what support your community offers.
-Share resources with parents in your circle of friends and family.
-Build your network.

5) Social and Emotional Competence of Children – My children know they are loved and use their words and behaviors to effectively express their feelings and needs.

Tips:
-Encourage your child to use words to communicate their feelings.
-Seek support with challenging behaviors to reduce stress for the family.
-Provide regular routines around mealtimes, naps, and bedtime.

There are many great community-based organizations that offer various services and programs that can help build your protective factors or meet your family’s individual needs.

Additional Resources

Click on the links below for more information.

CSSP Strong Families
Protective Factors Video

Upcoming Workshops

We have FREE workshops all year round:

October 18th (English Session): Money Management: Smart Budgeting During the Holidays
October 25th (Spanish Session): Administración de Finanzas: Presupuestos Durante los Días Festivos

Click the button below for more information and register today:

Workshops

We’re Here to Help

For individualized assistance with resources or referrals, please contact our Family Resources Team via the contact form on our workshops page:

Contact Form

 

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CDA Reimbursement Schedule
Family is authorized with a variable schedule

Variable schedules are reimbursed for the actual care hours provided that are within the hours authorized. The reimbursement will not exceed the amount billed by the provider or the full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) RMRC listed on the certificate for child care services. CDA will not reimburse for child absences, provider holiday or closure days on a variable schedule. If the full billed/invoiced amount is not paid, the parent is responsible for the difference directly to the provider.

Reimbursement of provider non-operation days/holidays

The number of reimbursable provider holidays and/or non-operation days is limited to a maximum of 10 days per fiscal year. Once these allowable limits are exceeded, reimbursement will be prorated for future closure days.

Reimbursement of registration fees, material fees, insurance fees

Fees for registration, material and/or insurance may be reimbursed if the current reimbursement amount does not exceed the Regional Market Rate Ceiling (RMRC). Reimbursement of these fees is limited to one (1) per child, per fiscal year and will be made in a single payment when requested on the child’s attendance record.

Note: For providers with programs that have multiple fees in one year or where it has been determined that the reimbursement amount exceeds the RMRC, the excess fees will be the responsibility of the parent.

License-Exempt Providers

When child care is authorized for a total of 25 or more hours per week the Full Time Weekly RMRC will be used. When child care is authorized for a total of less than 25 hours per week the Part Time RMRC will be used.

View the State’s RMRC by County See the full Program Guidelines

Congratulations! You may be eligible for CDA’s program.

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We’re sorry, you may not be eligible for CDA’s program.

If you would like to receive a personal eligibility screening, please complete the form below:

We’re sorry, it appears you may have different need for child care services than those listed.

To receive a personal eligibility screening, please call us at: (619) 427-4411 ext. 1400