The 2022 State of the FS Address (SoFA) is intended to update Consuelo Foundation’s partners from local government units, the non-profit sector, and basic ecclesiastical communities on the Foundation’s projects under the Family Strengthening (FS) program. The Address is delivered by Consuelo Foundation Program Officer and FS Focal Person Paulo Eugenio during the two-day Family Strengthening Consortium held on June 14 to 15, 2022.

The SoFA aligns the presentation of the FS capacity-building initiatives with Consuelo Zobel Alger’s philosophy on fostering a safe and nurturing family. It presents how the Foundation began with the Healthy Start program, which aimed to assist parents in caring for children ages zero to three years old through counselling and medical care. The Healthy Start program evolved into the FS program so Consuelo may cater to children of all ages and provide interventions for at-risk families. These programs were targeted to specific risks factors such as teenage pregnancy, unemployment, mental illness, domestic violence, and child exploitation. SoFA provides updates on the following components of the FS:

• Children’s Rights
• Health and Nutrition
• Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation (CANE)
• Positive Discipline and Communication
• Family Roles and Relationships
• Responsible Parenthood

These programs are implemented through (1) referral to local government services for families, (2) livelihood trainings, and (3) reporting of CANE cases. Programs are implemented with the help of FS Facilitators in the provinces of Antique, Iloilo, Laguna, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela. The presentation highlights the growth and success of these programs through partnerships with LGUs and NGO partners. Lastly, it provides a report on the family beneficiaries, the programs delivered, and the milestones achieved by the Foundation.