Free To Grow
Mailman School
of Public Health
Columbia University
722 West 168th Street,
8th Floor
New York, NY 10032
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Strengthening Families
Parent Education: General
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The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is designed to increase resilience and reduce risk factors for problem behaviors in high-risk, six- to 11-year-old children. SFP, which addresses behavioral, emotional, academic and social problems, seeks to bolster protective factors by strengthening the parenting skills of parents, improving family relationships and enhancing children's social and life skills. It emphasizes attachment and bonding among family members and family supervision [by parents]. It also encourages within the family communication of family values and expectations of no drug use. This is accomplished through three, 14-week parent training, children's skill training and family life-skills training sessions as well as supportive services. During these sessions, parents learn to increase desired behaviors from children. At the same time, children learn how to understand their feelings, effective communication, social skills, problem solving, resistance to peer pressure, consequences of substance use and compliance with parents' rules. Families plan and engage in structured family activities, practice therapeutic child play, conduct family meetings, learn communication skills, practice effective discipline and reinforce positive behaviors.
(Adapted from information on the Strengthening Families website, 2002, www.strengtheningfamilies.org, and used with the permission of Strengthening America's Families Project—Effective Family Programs for the Prevention of Delinquency)
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Evaluation
Research shows that this strategy helps to prevent substance abuse, conduct disorders and depression in children and parents, improves parenting skills and family relationships. Research also shows decreases antisocial behaviors, conduct disorders and aggression in children.
(Adapted from information on the Strengthening Families website, 2002, www.strengtheningfamilies.org, and used with the permission of Strengthening America's Families Project—Effective Family Programs for the Prevention of Delinquency)
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