Strengthening Families Programs (SFP) are evidence-based parenting and life skills training programs.
What are strengthening Parenting Programs?
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a 12 to 14-week parenting and family skills training program for high-risk and general-population families. The whole family attends and practices new relationship skills together in 2-hour family group sessions. SFP is an evidence-based program designed to significantly improve parenting skills and family relationships, reduce child maltreatment, children’s problem behaviors, delinquency, and alcohol, and drug abuse; and improve social competencies and school performance.
There are four age variants of the Strengthening Families Program. The SFP was originally developed for families with children aged 6-11 (SFP 6-11). Later SFP for ages 12-16 was added (SFP 12-16), followed by SFP for ages 3-5 (SFP 3-5) and SFP for ages Birth-3 (SFP Birth-3).
When and where do strengthening families Programs take place?
Historically the SFP curriculum would include three 12-14 week components: Parent Training, Children’s Skills Training, and Family Life Skills Training. Parents and youth would attend weekly SFP skills classes, learning parenting skills as well as youth life and refusal skills. There were separate classes for parents and youth in the first hour, followed by a joint family practice session in the second hour.
However, at this time we are conducting virtual group meetings for only the parents and other caregivers, supplemented by online lessons, handouts, and homework, as well as phone support.
Do strengthening families Programs take the place of therapy?
Strengthening Families Programs do not take the place of individual or family therapy. Parents and caregivers experiencing issues around substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health challenges, or other immediate crisis may be encouraged to seek therapeutic support to stabilize themselves before attending Strengthening Families Programs.
What types of Strengthening Families Programs are offered?
Strengthening Families Programs Birth -3
Parents learn to increase desired behaviors in children by using attention and rewards, clear communication, effective discipline, substance use education, problem-solving, and limit setting.
Objectives:
Decrease use and intention to use tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
Decrease children’s behavior problems.
Increase children’s social and life skills.
Increase family cohesion, communication, and organization.
Lower risk factors and increases in resilience, assets, and protective factors.
Agenda:
Week 1: Introductions and Group Building
Week 2: What Kids Can Do/Baby Basics
Week 3: Goals and a Game
Week 4: Attachment & Bonding
Week 5: Rewards
Week 6: Communicating with Infants and Toddlers
Week 7: Empathy
Week 8: Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco, and Families
Week 9: Solving Problems
Week 10: Giving Directions
Week 11: Setting Limits
Week 12: Disciplining without Physical Punishment
Week 13: Making and Using Behavior Change Plans (very short)
Week 14: Putting it all Together
Strengthening Families Programs FOR TEENS
Parents learn to increase desired behaviors in children by using attention and rewards, clear communication, effective discipline, substance use education, problem-solving, and limit setting.
Objectives:
• Decrease use and intention to use tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
• Decrease children’s behavior problems.
• Increase children’s social and life skills.
• Increase family cohesion, communication, and organization.
• Lower risk factors and increases in resilience, assets, and protective factors.
Agenda:
Week 1: Introductions and Group Building
Week 2: What teens are like and how to manage stress
Week 3: Encouraging good behavior
Week 4: Goals and Objectives
Week 5: Communication for better relationships
Week 6: Communication and Family Meetings
Week 7: Helping your teen handle peer pressure
Week 8: Alcohol, Drugs, and Family
Week 9: Solving Problems and Giving Directions
Week 10: Relationships, Love, and Sexuality
Week 11: Setting Limits I
Week 12: Setting Limits II
Week 13: Contracts for Changing Behavior
Week 14: Keeping up the good work