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A group of excited men and women on the steps of a building

FRC takes an empowerment approach to risk. By increasing awareness, intentionality, knowledge, translation into adaptive prevention strategies, and resources for action, risk can lead to resilience (restoring previous functional levels) and thriving (exceeding previous levels and optimizing outcomes). We aim to “move the needle” from risk into resilience and ultimately thriving experiences and outcomes for families, children, youth, and communities.

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Risk, Resilience, and Thriving

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We take an empowerment approach to risk. Risk exposure and risk-taking may be unintentional, impulsive, actively sought, and developmentally appropriate. By increasing awareness, intentionality, knowledge, and translation into adaptive prevention strategies, and using resources for action, risk can lead to resilience (restoring previous functional levels) and thriving (exceeding previous levels and optimizing outcomes). 

We aim to move the needle from risk into resilience and, ultimately, thriving experiences and outcomes for families, children, youth, and communities. Broadly, we study risk-factor exposure and risk-taking behaviors. Risk factors include social determinants of health, health disparities, physical environment exposures, and biosocial vulnerabilities. Risk-taking behaviors in the domains of sexual behaviors, substance use, violence, and delinquency are growth areas in the FRC research portfolio. Risk is not a four-letter bad word. Risk-taking is developmentally appropriate and facilitates skills development, confidence, and the ability to learn how to fail.