By Laura Gallant, 3/11/24, https://positiveexperience.org/blog/
The HOPE framework, centered around positive childhood experiences (PCEs), helps professionals and organizations achieve their mission of improving the health and well-being of children, families, and communities. It is an impactful framework that can be used on its own and alongside other models such as strength-based and trauma-informed care approaches. While many models and frameworks also celebrate strengths and promote holistic views of people, the HOPE framework offers a complete approach to practicing PCEs.
The HOPE framework trains professionals and organizations to identity and increase equitable access to PCEs for all children and families they serve. Those who implement HOPE into their work also learn how to remove barriers to PCEs. The Four Building Blocks of HOPE, the actionable foundation of the HOPE framework, categorizes PCEs in four large buckets: relationships, environment, engagement, and emotional growth. HOPE is culturally responsive – each family and community can decide what goes into each bucket and what PCEs they need.
Through the HOPE framework, we can develop relevant, impactful practices of positive childhood experiences from the individual service level to the organizational and policy level.
HOPE and strength-based approaches
Strength-based approaches build on the resilience and resources that children, youth, and families have within them. Professionals using strength-based practices help encourage and guide people to see their strengths within and around them. This includes encouraging people to seek help by reaching out to their existing support networks and encouraging change on the individual or community level. The HOPE framework also encourages service professionals to help find children and families’ innate strengths. By removing barriers to positive childhood experiences, providers can help children build internal resilience as they grow into healthy adults.
The HOPE framework and strength-based approaches are complementary but are not the same. Both models see the child, youth, or family as the center of care and drivers of their care plans. Both work to undo the stigma placed on families and communities by holistically viewing them beyond their experience with adversities. What separates the HOPE framework is that it does not shy away from what is not going well for families. HOPE does not believe that using a strengths-based lens means we should not acknowledge risks and challenges. Instead, the HOPE framework leads with strengths to build healthy relationships so those hard conversations can be grounded in trust and respect.
The HOPE framework, centered around positive childhood experiences (PCEs), helps professionals and organizations achieve their mission of improving the health and well-being of children, families, and communities. It is an impactful framework that can be used on its own and alongside other models such as strength-based and trauma-informed care approaches. While many models and frameworks also celebrate strengths and promote holistic views of people, the HOPE framework offers a complete approach to practicing PCEs.
The HOPE framework trains professionals and organizations to identity and increase equitable access to PCEs for all children and families they serve. Those who implement HOPE into their work also learn how to remove barriers to PCEs. The Four Building Blocks of HOPE, the actionable foundation of the HOPE framework, categorizes PCEs in four large buckets: relationships, environment, engagement, and emotional growth. HOPE is culturally responsive – each family and community can decide what goes into each bucket and what PCEs they need.
Through the HOPE framework, we can develop relevant, impactful practices of positive childhood experiences from the individual service level to the organizational and policy level.
HOPE and strength-based approaches
Strength-based approaches build on the resilience and resources that children, youth, and families have within them. Professionals using strength-based practices help encourage and guide people to see their strengths within and around them. This includes encouraging people to seek help by reaching out to their existing support networks and encouraging change on the individual or community level. The HOPE framework also encourages service professionals to help find children and families’ innate strengths. By removing barriers to positive childhood experiences, providers can help children build internal resilience as they grow into healthy adults.
The HOPE framework and strength-based approaches are complementary but are not the same. Both models see the child, youth, or family as the center of care and drivers of their care plans. Both work to undo the stigma placed on families and communities by holistically viewing them beyond their experience with adversities. What separates the HOPE framework is that it does not shy away from what is not going well for families. HOPE does not believe that using a strengths-based lens means we should not acknowledge risks and challenges. Instead, the HOPE framework leads with strengths to build healthy relationships so those hard conversations can be grounded in trust and respect.
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