Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!  

Information found on this website will help families and providers:

• Celebrate milestones. Every family looks forward to seeing a child's first smile, first step, and first words. Regular screenings help raise awareness of a child's development, making it easier to expect and celebrate developmental milestones.

• Promote universal screening. Just like hearing and vision screenings assure that children can hear and see clearly, developmental and behavioral screenings track a child's progress in areas such as language, social, or motor development.

• Identify possible delays and concerns early. With regular screenings, families, teachers, and other professionals can assure that young children get the services and supports they need, as early as possible to help them thrive alongside their peers.

• Enhance developmental supports. Combining the love and knowledge families have of their children with tools, guidance, and tips recommended by experts can make the most of the developmental support children receive.

The state lead for Strengthening Families Georgia (SFG) is the Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF). SFG is administered by the Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC) and represents a partnership of national, state, local, and public/private organizations dedicated to embedding five research-based protective factors in service/supports for young children and their families.

Vision: All families with children birth through age five in Georgia have the resources and support necessary for a meaningful and successful life.

Mission: To utilize the Strengthening Families assets-based framework of Protective Factors in all systems, programs, services and activities supporting families with young children as the approach to achieving the vision. These five Protective Factors are the foundation for the Strengthening Families approach:

1. Parental Resilience - Parents can bounce back
2. Social Connections - Parents have friends
3. Knowledge of Child Development - Parents know how children grow and learn
4. Concrete Support in Time of Need - Parents know where to turn for help
5. Social and Emotional Competence of Children - Children learn to talk about and handle feelings

A large group of Strengthening Families Georgia stakeholders, organized into a SFG Leadership Team, Partnership, and Supporters includes over 70 representatives from more than 30 organizations. The Leadership Team, made up of 20-25 members, provides direction and guidance for embedding the five protective factors in all areas of related work via:

• Policy and systems change
• Data driven decision-making
• Integration and prioritization of work
• Identifying and leveraging resources
• Coordination and collaboration with similar state efforts