Early Childhood Systems Support
The first five years of a child’s life are unlike any other. Neuroscientists describe this period as the most consequential stage of human development, when the brain forms more than one million new neural connections every second. The foundation built during these early years — for emotional regulation, language, trust, and resilience — shapes everything that follows.
The people and organizations working with families at this tender time are the custodians of children’s potential.
Our Roots in Early Childhood
Early childhood isn’t a new focus for Be Strong Families; it's where our work began.
The Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework was created in 2003 specifically for birth-to-five programs, and when BSF emerged from Strengthening Families Illinois, early childhood organizations were already at the center. First Fives California was among the earliest partners, and the first cohort of BSF parent leaders came from early childhood programs.
What We Offer
EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES
Professional Development
Our professional development workshops give early childhood staff a shared language and concrete strategies for building Protective Factors, from home visits to classroom drop-offs.
Staff learn to recognize and intentionally build all five Protective Factors in their daily work
Particularly valuable for Regional Offices of Education and First Five collaboratives coordinating across multiple providers, the Framework unifies efforts
Staff leave with awareness paired with immediate, practical application
Parent Cafés
Parent Cafés bring families into the work directly. They create the conditions for peer connection, support, and self-reflection.
Cafés are safe, structured spaces where parents talk and listen to each other on topics that matter
Flexible format: 90–120 minutes, in person or online, adaptable across program types
For Head Start programs looking to move beyond surface-level family engagement, the Parent Café model is a meaningful shift
One parent: “When I go home after a Café, I just feel like a weight lifted off.”
Early childhood support in action
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
Be Strong Families works with organizations across the early childhood ecosystem, including:
Head Start and Early Head Start programs
First Five collaboratives
Regional Offices of Education
Birth-to-five networks and coalitions
The Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN) began working with Be Strong Families in 2021, bringing Parent Cafés into their service continuum as a way to deepen family engagement. By the end of that year, ECIN had completed BSF’s Training of Trainers process and become a Certified Trainer Partner — independently evaluating the model as part of their ongoing commitment to it.
Your program is already doing the work of supporting families with young children. Be Strong Families can help you do it with greater intention, shared language, and lasting impact. Let’s talk about what that looks like for your organization.