Social Connections in the Time of COVID-19

Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families knows that building Protective Factors is the key to keeping families strong. It is no secret that COVID-19 has presented challenges to building and maintaining strong families. In particular, the physical distancing necessary for keeping ourselves and our communities as safe as possible during the pandemic poses a unique challenge for creating and fostering the social connections that are imperative to strong families. ​

With many of the traditional ways in which families would connect with each other rendered unsafe by the pandemic, family-strengthening professionals and organizations have turned to creative ways for promoting social connections between families during this time. Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County hosts weekly virtual parent groups with the main goal of fostering social connection.

​During these groups, families can ask questions, share concerns, and simply connect with one another. The facilitator creatively works to keep participants engaged through facilitation of virtual activities, such as scanning the pages of a book to share and read over Zoom together

---

​Home Wanted (The Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership) hosted a “Home Together” creativity contest, in which families were invited to share art, music, recipes, and stories from their time at home during COVID-19. They then shared the submissions with everyone during an “award ceremony” that was held on Facebook Live, via Zoom. 
​

---

It is inspiring to see these and other examples of how those who work to strengthen families are adapting and finding ways to foster social connections between families amidst a situation that makes doing so inherently challenging. Building from some of these ideas and with the goal of supporting others with creating similar opportunities in their communities, the CPTF Calling All Families Work Group is working to develop a list of ideas and tools for hosting these types of activities as well as guides to support families with fostering their own social connections outside of these structured events. ​

If you’d like to be involved in the CPTF Calling All Families Work Group, please reach out to Cassie Davis.  Have your own ideas or examples of ways to safely foster social connections between families during this time? Share them in the comments below!
​
P.S. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to engage with hundreds of family support professionals from across Colorado during the free, virtual Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference being hosted September 28-30, 2020. This conference is a joint collaboration across the family support continuum, from prevention and public health, through restoration and child welfare. The final day will highlight the work of Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families. ​