Strengthening Families
The Strengthening Families Program is geared for parents of youth between the ages of 6-12 and 10-14.
Strengthening Families Program 6-12
- Builds on family strengths
- Increase resilience
- Reduce risk factors for substance abuse, depression, violence and aggression, delinquency, and school failure
- Helps youth develop skills in handling peer pressure and build a positive future
- Decreases the likelihood of family conflict and risky adolescent behavior
- Aids families in growing together
Strengthening Families Program 10-14
- Builds on family strengths
- Encourages appreciation for one another
- Improves relationships
- Helps youth develop skills in handling peer pressure and build a positive future
- Decreases the likelihood of family conflict and risky adolescent behavior
- Aids families in growing together
Parent Sessions
- Using Love and Limits
- Making House Rules
- Encouraging Good Behavior
- Using Consequences
- Building Bridges
- Protecting Against Substance Abuse
- Getting Help for Special Family Needs
Youth Sessions
- Having Goals and Dreams
- Appreciating Parents
- Dealing with Stress
- Following Rules
- Peer Pressure
- Reaching Out to Others
Family Sessions
- Supporting Goals and Dreams
- Appreciating Family Members
- Using Family Meetings
- Understanding Family Values
- Building Family Communication
- Peer Pressure
- Putting It All Together
Each of the sessions includes one hour of parents and youth meeting separately with their facilitators. The second hour parents and youth meet together as a family.
The sessions include activities, videos, discussion time, learning, games, and family projects.
Outcomes indicate that, compared with those who were not in the program, families:
- Had significantly lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use
- Youth had significantly lower conduct problems in school
- Parents learned to build a positive relationship with their children, set appropriate limits, and follow through on consequences
SFP 10-14 has been proven effective in:
- Delaying the onset of adolescent substance use
- Lowering levels of aggression
- Increasing the resistance to peer pressure in youth
- Increasing the ability of parents to set appropriate limits and show affection to and support of their children