PA Peace Alliance Webinar Series – The Power of Protective Factors: Learning, Reflecting, and Building Forward

Grounded in the CDC’s Connecting the Dots framework, this interactive session invites grantees to explore the science of protective factors and how they strengthen youth well-being across individual, relationship, and community levels. Together, we’ll reflect on how these factors show up in our programs today—and where there’s opportunity to grow. Using a guided worksheet, participants will identify protective factors their work already supports, those they want to enhance, and the resources or partnerships that can help make it happen. Through collaborative discussion, we’ll celebrate what’s working, share insights across programs, and build our collective capacity to create safer, more connected environments where all youth can thrive.

This webinar will be led by WestEd's own Dr. Theresa Pfister. Her experience in K-12, non-profit, and higher education settings position her at the intersection of research and evaluation and technical assistance. Her work at WestEd spans qualitative research, school climate, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed schools, school-based mental health, and equity in education.

Theresa earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Pomona College, a Masters in teaching from Relay GSE, and a PhD in Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science from the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Applied Developmental Science and The Journal of Early Adolescence, as well as practitioner-facing magazines such as ASCD's Educational Leadership and UC Berkeley's Greater Good.