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Background: The Protective Factors Survey (PFS) is a self-report measure of multiple family-level protective factors against abuse and neglect. It is the only peer-reviewed valid and reliable tool collecting data on multiple protective factors, and is widely used by practitioners in child abuse prevention and related fields., Objective: The objective of this study was to revise the PFS in response to feedback from practitioners, and analyze the internal structure of new items., Participants and Setting: Data was collected from two Qualtrics panel samples (N = 213 and N = 109)., Methods: A team of researchers generated new items informed by the literature on protective factors against child maltreatment and best practices in survey design to address feedback from the field and improve sensitivity to change. We conducted focus groups with caregivers and practitioners to review new items, and then fielded revised items using panel data. We conducted exploratory factor analyses to obtain a small, integrated set of items that tap the targeted protective factors., Results: Exploratory factor analyses yield a five-factor solution. Four of the factors consisting of Family Functioning and Resilience, Nurturing and Attachment, Social Supports, and Concrete Supports. A fifth factor emerged consisting of items intended to capture Social Supports. We adapted these items to measure Caregiver/Practitioner Relationship., Conclusions: We have developed the PFS, 2nd Edition based on feedback from the field and focus groups with parents and practitioners. Initial evidence from the panel data suggests that the new subscales are internally consistent. Future research will establish reliability and validity., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Little research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) in rural, applied settings. In this mixed-methods study, we evaluated an approach to ECMHC used in rural Southwest Kansas with individualized services for childcare providers. Twenty-nine home-based and center-based childcare providers completed measures on provider growth, perceptions of child outcomes, and satisfaction with sessions. In total, 162 data points were collected and analyzed using multilevel growth models. In addition, 16 providers participated in qualitative interviews. Both home-based and center-based providers reported very high satisfaction with consultation sessions which increased with time, although home-based providers showed significantly higher satisfaction than did center-based providers. Provider growth, encompassing personal well-being, scheduling and transitions, connections with parents, and positive discipline strategies increased significantly over time. Child outcomes, encompassing prosocial behavior, resilience, and overall well-being also improved significantly in providers' perception. ECMHC as conducted in Southwest Kansas appears to have a positive effect on childcare providers and the children in their care., (© 2015 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.)