Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14

What is the Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14?

The Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) is delivered within parent, youth, and family sessions. The sessions use narrated videos portraying typical youth and parent situations with diverse families. Parents and youth meet in separate groups for the first hour and together as families during the second hour to practice skills, play games, and do family projects. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects.

SFP 10-14 is a skill-building curriculum designed to:

• prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems
• strengthen parenting skills
• build family strengths

What are the benefits of SFP 10-14?

• delaying the onset of adolescent substance use
• lowering levels of aggression
• increasing the resistance to peer pressure in youth
• increasing the ability of parents/caregivers to set appropriate limits and show affection to and support of their children
• reducing meth use
• creating positive outcomes with school-related behavior problems
• helping parents/caregivers learn nurturing skills that support their children
• giving youth a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents/caregivers
• teaching youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure

How does it work?

SFP 10-14 content is delivered for the first hour to parents and youth in separate groups. The groups typically come together for a family meal and then practice skills, play games, and do family projects during the second hour. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects. Four optional booster sessions can be held three to twelve months after the basic sessions. Special features include:

• parents and youth learning together
• sessions are designed and use examples with ethnically diverse families in rural and urban settings
• scientific evaluation that has shown the program to be effective

The program is taught to a group of 8 to 13 families over a period of seven weeks, usually in the evenings. It is recommended that the group size be smaller when dealing with families where parents have begun to have concerns over the problematic behavior of their youth.

What training and materials are required for high quality implementation?

Training helps ensure program fidelity, making it more likely that there will be positive outcomes for youth and parents. Groups of at least three facilitators per program site must receive training. One facilitator teaches the parent group, two facilitators teach the youth group, and all three facilitators work with families during the family session. Facilitators learn about the background, evaluation, goals, and content of the program and take part in session activities. Training also includes information on practical considerations for implementing SFP 10-14. Groups can host a 3-day training or individuals can join an already scheduled training. Training is required to purchase materials.

Manuals and video materials are required for the program. Many of the materials are one time purchases with the manual having masters for participant handouts. A sample budget is available online to help you with your planning.

How do I get more information?

Contact: Program Coordinator: Cathy Hockaday. Email: hockaday@iastate.edu or phone: 515-294-7601

More information is available at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp10-14

SFP 10-14 is listed on the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices