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 Protective Factors

Protective factors are the conditions, skills, and support that help children withstand and recover from adversity.

Protective factors are not simply the absence of harm or risk; rather, they are active strengths that buffer stress, promote healthy development, and support long-term well-being, especially in the context of abuse, neglect, family conflict, or exposure to violence. Decades of research in child development and childhood adversity show that protective factors can reduce the negative impacts of trauma while helping children adapt, cope, and grow.

Individual Level

At the individual level, protective factors include skills such as:

  • Self-efficacy
  • Emotional regulation
  • Problem-solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Personal agency

Children who develop these capacities are better equipped to navigate high-conflict or traumatic environments.

Relational & Community Levels

At the relational and community levels, protective factors include:

  • Opportunities for meaningful participation in the community
  • Enriching educational environments
  • Access to health care, including mental health care
  • Emotionally supportive relationships

Importantly, protective relationships are not limited to parents. They may also include extended family members, educators, social workers, attorneys, and other trusted adults.

At CVP, we believe child-centered practices play a critical role in fostering protective factors by giving children developmentally appropriate opportunities to be heard, to build skills, and to make sense of their experiences.