Individual level
Skills that equip children to navigate high-conflict or traumatic environments:
- Self-efficacy
- Emotional regulation
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Personal agency
Solutions/Protective Factors
Solutions
Protective factors.
The conditions, skills, and support that help children withstand and recover from adversity — active strengths, not just the absence of harm.
Protective factors are not simply the absence of harm or risk; 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 show protective factors can reduce the negative impacts of trauma while helping children adapt, cope, and grow.
Relational & community levels
Supports that surround a child — and they aren’t limited to parents:
- Meaningful participation in the community
- Enriching educational environments
- Access to health care, including mental health care
- Emotionally supportive relationships
Protective relationships may include extended family, educators, social workers, attorneys, and other trusted adults.
At CVP, child-centered practices play a critical role in fostering protective factors — giving children developmentally appropriate opportunities to be heard, to build skills, and to make sense of their experiences.
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