How Does Happiness Change Lives?
Childhood is a time of carefree fun, learning, exploration and growth. While it’s widely understood that childhood experiences shape our lives, recent research has shed light on the crucial role that social capital and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) play in fostering healthy development. FamilyAid focuses on these factors as we help the children and parents in our care out of their current crises.
The uncertainty and stress caused by housing instability can disrupt a child’s life, impacting their physical, mental and emotional health, and prolonged instability increases the likelihood of homelessness in adulthood. Research indicates that positive experiences can mitigate the effects of adversity: “We hypothesize that PCEs may have a greater influence in promoting positive health, such as getting needed social and emotional support or flourishing as an adult … Attention should be given to the creation of those positive experiences that both reflect and generate resilience within children, families, and communities” (Bethell et al., 2019, p. E4-E6).
Christian Brunner, FamilyAid’s senior program officer of performance and evaluation, has been at the forefront of the agency’s effort to understand and expand intentional positive experience as a part of the Agency’s programming. “Our own internal data reveals that providing both children and parents with connections to community resources is one of the top five elements that result in long-term family stability,” says Brunner. “By prioritizing the comprehensive needs of both generations, we break the cycle of adversity, with more than 99% of our families sustaining their housing in the long term, and parents reporting their children are happier and healthier.”
To help families get back up on their feet sooner and permanently, we use a holistic, whole-family 2-generation (2Gen) approach to our work, helping each member of our families achieve greater levels of financial, educational, physical, and social well-being.
As part of this approach, this summer, we are sending children in our care to summer camps and providing engaging and educational day programs. By contributing to our Summer Fund, you can help shape the positive experiences that impact the lives of the children and parents we serve. Will you join us in supporting them?
