Partnering with parents to identify and access concrete supports in the community may help prevent the stress that sometimes precipitates child maltreatment. Providing concrete supports may also help allow families to avoid situations that could be neglectful, such as leaving a younger child home alone while a parent goes to work because the family cannot access reliable, affordable child care. The following resources offer information about employment, financial, and other concrete supports that can help families during times of need, including State and local examples.
2-1-1.org
United Way
Offers a free, confidential hotline to connect people with local resources for food, employment, crisis support, health, and housing assistance.
Find Support
National Parent Helpline
Provides links to national resources for a wide range of supports, including basic needs, social support emergency numbers, parenting education, and more. The webpage also includes State-specific resources.
Making Connections
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Provides resources about an initiative that sought to strengthen families to improve child outcomes.
Programs for Families and Children
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Provides information about Federal programs that assist families, including those that prevent abuse, provide financial assistance, and assist with child care.
Protective Factors: Concrete Support in Good Times and in Bad
Exchange Family Center (2018)
Discusses the importance of concrete support as a protective factor and ways members of the community can help parents who need more support.
Protective Factors: Concrete Support in Times of Need [Video]
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2016)
Discusses how concrete support for parents can serve as a protective factor to prevent child maltreatment.
Supporting Families With Concrete Supports in Challenging Times
Espinoza (2020)
Quality Start Los Angeles
Provides information about how to support families in obtaining concrete supports, including how to incorporate family voice.
State and local examples
Protective Factor #3 - Concrete Support in Times of Need
Door County Partnership for Children and Families
Provides information for parents about accessing concrete support, including questions to help them assess their readiness to access services and identify which services may be most helpful.
Protective Factors Resource Document for Families With Children Ages 0–5 (PDF - 325 KB)
YMCA Childcare Resource Service
Offers resources for families in San Diego that can provide support during times of need, including those related to health, food, utilities, finances, and employment. Several of these resources provide information related to COVID-19.
What Is Concrete Support?
Champions for Children (2020)
Presents resources related to child care, virtual education and learning, financial assistance, food assistance, and stimulus checks for families in Tampa Bay, FL.