At First 5 Humboldt, we are dedicated to fostering continuous learning and enhancing our capacity to serve families effectively. As part of this commitment, a team including representatives from Welcome Baby , our Family Support Navigators, and valued community partners from Paso Paso, United Indian Health Services, and Mattole Valley Resource Center recently participated in a four-day professional development at the Montana Institute.
This intensive training focused on the Science of the Positive, a framework that reinforces and deepens our existing principles for cultivating positive influences within individuals, families, and communities. It was particularly valuable to collaborate and conference with professionals from across the country, gaining first-hand examples of how organizations like ours are successfully applying these principles. This approach deeply resonates with First 5’s mission, and its message of focusing on and growing the good is particularly beneficial during times when many challenges feel prominent, offering a vital strategy to build protective factors and foster resilience in our county, especially given our significant ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) scores. Promoting positive norms is a vital strategy to build protective factors and foster resilience.
This training provided practical tools, rooted in the Science of the Positive’s Cycle of Transformation, which includes four essential domains:
Spirit: This is the ‘why’ behind our work – fostering a hopeful, optimistic outlook by continually affirming the inherent strengths and potential within families and communities, even when facing adversity. This shared belief guides both First 5 and our partners.
Science: It’s about rigorously measuring and understanding these positive aspects. We’re refining our survey methods across all programs, especially the annual Playgroup survey, to gather data on prevalent positive behaviors and strengths using this framework. Our partners can likewise seek data to highlight community strengths.
Action: This involves translating scientific understanding into concrete plans. We’ll use this data to amplify community strengths and strategically develop our programs. Partner organizations can design interventions that build directly on these identified positives.
Return: This focuses on evaluating the impact and ensuring the efforts lead to desired positive outcomes, creating a continuous loop of positive growth. Crucially, this also includes recognizing the importance of professional well-being and restoration for professionals in our field, as it is essential for preventing burnout and sustaining our long-term effectiveness.
We’re eager to share the positive impacts of this enhanced, collaborative approach as we continue working for the well-being of Humboldt County families.