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National Family Support Network Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support 

The nationally-adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support are designed to be used by all stakeholders – public departments, foundations, networks, community-based organizations, and families – as a tool for planning, providing, and assessing quality practice.  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.  ​ 

The Standards uniquely integrate and operationalize the Principles of Family Support Practice and the Strengthening Families Framework and Approach with its research-based evidence-informed 5 Protective Factors.  The vision is that their implementation will help ensure that families are supported and strengthened through quality practice. 

The revised version of the Standards, issued in March 2021, reflects an enhanced focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion and addressing community conditions that impact families’ healthy development.  

Free Standards Overview Webinars

What does it mean to be a quality Family Strengthening and Support Program? 

This webinar provides an overview of the nationally-adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support. It includes examples of how they are being implemented at the systems and program level, including through the Standards Certification Training which more than 16,100 people have successfully completed nationwide. 

 April 23, 2024 – Registration Link

Presenter: 

  • Victoria Hartman, Program Manager – Certified NFSN Trainer, California Family Resource Association   

July 30, 2024 – Registration Link:   

Presenters: 

  • Victoria Hartman, Program Manager – Certified NFSN Trainer, California Family Resource Association   
  • Caroline Wessel, Program Manager- Certified NFSN Trainer, Home Start, San Diego 

October 29, 2024 – Registration Link: 

Presenter: 

  • Victoria Hartman, Program Manager – Certified NFSN Trainer, California Family Resource Association   

NFSN Standards Certification Training in California

The Certification Training details how the Standards can enhance work with families. Whether you are program staff setting up a new program or strengthening an existing one, the Standards provide a blueprint for implementing best practice. In follow up surveys at 3 months and 9 months after the Certification Training, more than 92% of respondents indicated that the Standards enhanced their Program’s work with families. 

Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate from the National Family Support Network, valid for two years. More than 16,200 people have successfully completed the Certification Training to date in the U.S. and Canada. 

Topics Covered: 

  • History of the Family Support Field 
  • Principles of Family Support Practice 
  • Strengthening Families Approach and its 5 Protective Factors 
  • Family Centeredness – How can we develop and implement a program that is centered on the needs of families? 
  • Family Strengthening – How can we help families to build upon their strengths for achieving success? 
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – How can staff and families value, respect, and embrace families’ diversity, and advance equity and inclusion? 
  • Community Strengthening – How can programs and families build strong communities? 
  • Evaluation – How do we know how well our programs are serving families? 

Recommended Participants: 

Management, direct service staff, parent leaders, program officers, and program monitors in the Family Support and Strengthening field. For Programs, teams of Executive Directors, Managers, Coordinators, Direct Service staff, and Parent Leaders are highly encouraged to participate together, because each has a key role to play in implementing the Standards effectively. 

Please note: 

1.) The training will take place on DAY 1: 9:00am-3:30pm PT and DAY 2: 9:15am-3:30pm PT, including breaks. 

The training will begin promptly at 9:00am PT on Day 1 and 9:15am PT on Day 2. Please plan accordingly, as latecomers and those who do not participate in the full training each day will not receive certificates. 

2.) When completing the registration, please specify the physical shipping address to which your training manual should be mailed in advance of the training. Without a hard copy of the training manual, you will not be able to participate. 

(Large Button) Upcoming Trainings:  

Training Payment Methods 

CFRA Member Pricing: $115/participant

Non-member Pricing: $150/participant

Upon registration using the Microsoft Forms above, CFRA will send an invoice to the designated contact. Registration is not confirmed until payment is received.

Financial assistance is available if you would like to host a private training for at least 24 participants. Please contact Sadie Crowe at scrowe@thecapcenter.org and Victoria Hartman vhartman@thecapcenter.org for more details on this option.

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