Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

Social Media Toolkit

Strengthening Families

We’re kicking off the new year providing you with tools and resources to help strengthen Texas families! For the month of January, the PEI Communications Team has crafted content designed to give caregivers the tools and resources to help strengthen their families and help children thrive. This content can be shared on your organization’s websites, social media channels, and with your community - not only this month, but year round.

The sample messaging can be used as is, or it can be customized in any way that works best for your community. For example, if your agency has specific local resources, or if your agency has a specific prevention program, consider replacing some of the Get Parenting Tips website links with links to your program’s information.
There are some sample GetParentingTips.com branded social media image designs included in this toolkit that you are free to share on your socials and with your networks.

This toolkit is compiled using the Five Protective Factors, which provide strategies that help us:

Re-envision how to strengthen families as a unit
Build positive relationships between children and adults who care for them
Mitigate the risks that lead to child abuse and neglect

Weekly Themes Based on the Five Protective Factors:

Week One: Parental Resilience
Week Two: Social Connections
Week Three: Concrete Supports
Week Four: Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development
Week Five: Social & Emotional Competence of Children

Clipboard showing the five protective factors
Image Credit: Children’s Trust Fund Alliance

Sample Social Media Posts

Pick articles that reflect the age range and population you support, or link to your own resources.

Hashtags: #StrengtheningFamilies #FamilyStrengthening #PositiveParenting #StrongFamilies

Week One: Parental Resilience

In January we’re focusing on strengthening families! Parenting isn’t easy, but resilience is key to helping keep your family strong. Learn more about positive parenting at: getparentingtips.com/popular-topics

Sometimes focusing on you is the best thing you can do. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your kids. Get parenting self-care tips at: tinyurl.com/StressSelfCareGPT

Disciplining your child is a critical component to parenting, but it's not always easy. Learn positive discipline techniques that are instructive and caring:

Discipline: tinyurl.com/DisciplineGPT
Toddler positive discipline: tinyurl.com/ToddlerDiscGPT
Tween/teen positive discipline: tinyurl.com/TeenDiscGPT
Talking back: tinyurl.com/talk-back-gpt
Setting boundaries: tinyurl.com/TeenBoundsGPT

Single parent? You are not alone. Read these articles for single moms and dads to learn some helpful single parenting tips:

Single mom: tinyurl.com/single-mom-gpt
Single dad: tinyurl.com/single-dad-gpt
Single parents: tinyurl.com/SingleParentGPT

Children have better outcomes when their father is involved. Learn why at: tinyurl.com/FathersMatterGPT

Week Two: Social Connections

Did you know social connections are important to in helping you, your children, and your family thrive? Learn more at: tinyurl.com/HealthGPT

Has your family's screen time increased? Digital device time has gone from a distraction to the way we work, learn, stay in touch, and cope. Learn how screens impact your family and get screen time parenting tips:

Screen time for toddlers: tinyurl.com/ScreenTimeGPT
Screen time for tweens/teens: tinyurl.com/TeenScreensGPT

The emotional impacts of bullying and cyber bullying can last a lifetime. Learn how to prevent bullying while keeping your kids confident and safe at: tinyurl.com/CyberBullyGPT

Get to know your neighbors on your block and check on them to see how they are doing. Learn more on how to build strong communities at: tinyurl.com/StrongComGPT

Find a parent support group or start one in your community. Search for local support at: getparentingtips.com/local-support

Don’t be afraid to reach out for mental health support when needed! The National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 toll-free by simply dialing 9-8-8 on your phone. More info at: 988LifeLine.org

Week Three: Concrete Supports

Texas has multiple resources to help support families in areas of need such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, child care, health care, and mental health services. Find local support in your area: getparentingtips.com/local-support

It’s not easy coming up with healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas for kids, day in and day out. Don’t worry, we've got you! Learn how to take the stress out of mealtime for all ages at: tinyurl.com/HealthyMealsGPT

Need help affording child care? Contact your local Workforce Solutions to see if you’re eligible and to apply: tinyurl.com/twc-ws

Need help figuring out child care? Check out these tips on picking a childcare provider: tinyurl.com/ChildCareGPT

If you need answers to parenting questions or even something more, The Texas Parent Helpline is available 24/7 to help you with any parenting challenge, big or small. Call or text 833-680-0611 or visit us at:
getparentingtips.com/get-help-now

The Texas Youth Helpline provides free and confidential services to youth, their parents, and other family members of youth in crisis who need help finding a counselor, safe shelter, legal information, other local referral information, or just someone to talk to. Find out more at: www.dfps.texas.gov/youth-helpline

Texas 2-1-1 can help Texans connect with the services they need, available in English and Spanish. 211texas.org

Trouble paying rent? Visit the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to understand your legal rights, the eviction process, and steps you can take to protect yourself at: tdhca.state.tx.us/TEDP.htm

Week Four: Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development

Did you know research shows that children who receive affection and nurturing from their parents early on have the best chance of healthy development? Learn more at: https://www.getparentingtips.com/popular-topics/development.asp

A child’s brain development starts from before birth all the way through young adulthood. Learn more about each stage of children’s brain development in these articles:

Your baby's brain grows rapidly until about the age of 3. During this critical time, parents can do many things to promote healthy baby growth, including positive brain development. Learn more at: tinyurl.com/Baby-Brain-GPT

Do you ever wonder what goes on in the tiny heads of babies? Babies’ brains develop rapidly even before they are born. Early experiences shape brain growth, so smile, sing, and read to your baby often. Learn more in this video: tinyurl.com/BrainDevGpt

Did you know that good nutrition and positive behaviors can help your baby’s brain grow and prevent potential behavioral and learning issues ? When you’re pregnant, your diet and lifestyle play a key role in your baby’s development, including your baby’s brain. Learn more in this video: tinyurl.com/BabyBrainDev

Kids are ready to potty train between 18 months and 3 years old. Timing is everything. Every child is different and will potty train when they are ready. Look for signs they are ready in this article: tiny.one/PottyTrainGPT

Positive discipline is one aspect of positive parenting. It focuses on what you want your child to do, rather than on telling him what he can't do. GetParentingTips.com has some tips and tools to help you through difficult moments, which will help your child become more independent and able to control their behavior:

Discipline: tinyurl.com/DisciplineGPT
Toddler positive discipline: tinyurl.com/ToddlerDiscGPT
Tween/teen positive discipline: tinyurl.com/TeenDiscGPT
Talking back: tinyurl.com/talk-back-gpt
Setting boundaries: tinyurl.com/TeenBoundsGPT

The Texas Parent Helpline isn’t only for answering crisis calls, it’s also available for answering general parenting questions, big or small, helping parents and caregivers deal with the many challenges of parenting. The hotline is available 27/7 for FREE to listen without judgement, help brainstorm, and connect parents and caregivers with resources and referrals:

Website/online chat: getparentingtips.com/get-help-now
Call/text: (833) 680-0611

Week Five: Social & Emotional Competence of Children

Children thrive when parents provide not only affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations, and safe opportunities that promote independence: tinyurl.com/ConfidentChildGPT

If you're concerned your child may be struggling with a mental health condition, you're not alone. The stigma surrounding mental health disorders in children can lead parents to missing early warning signs and delay getting kids the help they need: tiny.one/KidsMH

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health and having a sense of suicide awareness are important when raising kids. Knowing how to talk openly about it and get help can make a world of difference: tinyurl.com/Teen-MH-GPT

Children experience loss and grief in multiple ways. Since grief looks different for each child, it may be hard to tell what they’re feeling after a loss. This article can help you help a child who is grieving: tinyurl.com/ChildGriefGPT

Take thoughtful action to prevent bullying by learning how to make your kid feel more confident at: tinyurl.com/CyberBullyGPT

Adults might think of playing as a reward, but for children, play time is necessary in helping them learn, grow, and develop skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives. Learn more about the power of play and games to keep kids not only engaged, but learning as they grow: tinyurl.com/GamesPlayGPT

Family pets can be a source of comfort and fun for the whole family. They can also teach children life lessons, responsibility, respect for living things, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Learn more about the benefits of kids and pets at: tinyurl.com/KidsPetsGPT