Parent Cafés are physically and emotionally safe spaces where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges and victories of raising a family. Through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to help strengthen their families.

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Cafés are carefully-designed, structured discussions that use the principles of adult learning and family support. They are highly sustainable with training reinforcement, institutional support, and a commitment to an approach that engages and affirms parents as leaders. Participants leave Parent Cafés feeling inspired, energized, and excited to put into practice what they’ve learned.

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The Be Strong Families Parent Café Model is structured around questions related to each of the five Strengthening Families Protective Factors™, a nationally recognized, research-based framework for keeping children safe and families strong. The Parent Café model was developed by parent leaders as part of Strengthening Families-Illinois in 2007. 

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The Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors are:

• Resilience: Parent Resilience

• Relationships: Positive Social Connections

• Support: Concrete Support in Times of Need

• Knowledge: Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

• Communication: Social and Emotional Competence