Launch of the NEW Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support

National Family Support Network

This event will offer an introduction to the NEW version of the U.S. nationally-adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support.

Based on the Principles of Family Support Practice and the Strengthening Families Framework and its research-based evidence-informed 5 Protective Factors, the Standards have created a common language across different kinds of Family Strengthening and Family Support programs such as Family Resource Centers, home visiting programs, and child development programs. They are used as a tool for planning, providing, and assessing quality practice by public departments, foundations, networks, community-based organizations, and families.

In 2020, the NFSN conducted a review and revision process to update the Standards, engaging its Member Networks across the United States, parent leaders, and representatives of Family Strengthening and Support organizations in Canada to provide input and feedback. The revised version of the Standards was approved by the NFSN Membership in February 2021.

The Standards address 5 critical areas of practice for any Program or individual working with families - Family Centeredness, Family Strengthening, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Community Strengthening, and Evaluation - with 15 standards, each with minimum and high quality indicators and implementation examples.

More than 9,200 people have successfully completed the Standards Certification Training in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Many more have been introduced to them through conferences, webinars, and downloading them online.

Recommended Participants:

National, state, and local policymakers, public departments, Children's Trust Fund staff, private funders, Family Support and Strengthening Network leaders and representatives, Family Support and Strengthening Program management staff