Bringing a Resilience Perspective to Children in the Child Welfare System: A Curriculum for Caregivers

Abstract

Resilience is the process, or processes, by which individuals are able to achieve positive developmental outcomes despite risk factors and adversity (Masten, 2006; Masten & Coatsworth, 1998). Resilience can be thought of as the product of two related, but opposing forces in an individual's life: (1) risk factors that act as barriers to achievement of optimal health and well-being and increase the likelihood of negative developmental outcomes, and (2) protective factors that increase resistance to risk factors (Goldstein & Brooks, 2005; Klein, Kufeldt, & Rideout, 2006) and thereby contribute to more positive outcomes including optimal health and wellbeing. Risk and protective factors have additive effects, with additional risk factors increasing the likelihood of poor outcomes, and additional protective factors increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes (Klein et al, 2006; Masten, 2001). Risk and protective factors can exist at varying levels. As discussed below, they may exist within the environment, within the family, or within an individual (also referred to as internal risk or protective factors). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)