Help Me Grow Utah Blog

Protective Factors for Families: Social Connections

Of all Five Protective Factors (aka Five Strengths), Social Connections is the strongest predictor of well-being. When we have positive, accessible connections with supportive others in our lives, we can ask them for help, find emotional support, and share parenting experiences and information. These positive experiences also build resilience and help support children’s social and

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Protective Factors for Families: Parental Resilience 

It’s been a long day, and you’re running on empty. Everyone is hungry, and you’re trying to get dinner ready. Suddenly, your preschoolers get into a fight about a toy they both want to play with, and your baby starts to cry. What happens next?   Parenting is both rewarding and challenging. The 2023 Stress

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Protective Factors for Families: Concrete Support in Times of Need

You just got into your car, after finally getting your 3-year-old buckled into her car seat, and… the car won’t start. For some reason, the battery died, and now you fear being late for work, after dropping your child off at preschool. What would you do next?  Everyone needs help sometimes! In this example, maybe

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Nourishing Family Strengths: Protective Factors

Like a tree in a storm, families can be shaken by the many challenges that life brings. A storm can sometimes swoop in unexpectedly, causing the tree branches and leaves to wildly move back and forth. If the roots aren’t strong, the tree can be uprooted. If the trunk is dry, the tree can break.

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Social Emotional Development: Learning for Success 

Imagine for a second you see the world through your baby’s eyes. It is gigantic, full of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells. You don’t yet have words to describe the things you see. You may not know where you are or be able to differentiate faces. However, you do know that some people feel safer

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