Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Catherine LaBrenz
Second Advisor
Hui Huang
Third Advisor
Danielle Harrell
Fourth Advisor
Patricia Allard
Abstract
Family Resource Centers have emerged as vital community-based strategies for preventing child maltreatment and supporting family well-being. This three-article dissertation explores the role of Family Resource Centers across multiple levels: the literature, state-level trends, and individual outcomes for parents. The first study synthesizes findings from 42 articles, identifying four core themes: parenting practices and family well-being, social support and community well-being, child maltreatment, and program satisfaction and engagement. The second study analyzes statewide data across Texas counties from 2015 to 2022, revealing a significant decline in child maltreatment substantiation rates and identifying community-level factors such as housing vacancy and family structure that influence outcomes. The third study evaluates changes in parental protective factors before and after participation in a specific Family Resource Center model, finding notable improvements in resilience, social connection, and parenting knowledge. Collectively, these studies provide compelling evidence for the value of Family Resource Centers in advancing primary prevention, informing policy, and guiding future investment in upstream supports for families and communities.
Keywords
Family Resource Center; Child Maltreatment Prevention; Community-Based Services; Protective Factors; Family Well-Being; Child Welfare; Parenting Practices; Primary Prevention
Disciplines
Social Work
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Jenkins, Lacey, "Strengthening Child Well-Being: Evaluating the Role of Family Resource Centers in Preventing Child Maltreatment" (2025). Social Work Dissertations. 193.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_dissertations/193