Strengthening Families Program

An evidence-based, family skills training program that has been found in research to significantly reduce problem behaviors in children, improve school performance, and reduce delinquency and alcohol and drug use in youth.

Strengthening Families Program

DEVELOPED BY

Karol L. Kumpfer, Ph.D.Professor

Dept of Health Promotion and Education

University of Utah1901 East South Campus Drive, Room 2142

Salt Lake City, Utah 84112Phone (801) 581-7718

LutraGroup

Henry O. Whiteside, Ph.D.

Managing Partner, LutraGroup

5215 Pioneer Fork RoadSalt Lake City, UT 84108-1678

Phone 801.583.4601Fax 801.583.7979

hwhiteside@lutragroup.com

Ceceilia TsoNAVAJO

American Indian Trainer of Trainers 801.577.2668

ctso2001@yahoo.com

Strengthening Families ProgramTRAINER OF GROUP LEADERS

SFP: An Evidence-based Practice

NIDA Red Book OJJDP Strengthening America’s

Families CSAP Model Program CMHS Model Program ONDCP Model Program International Cochrane Collaboration

(Foxcroft, et al, 2003)

Strengthening Families Program

• NIDA (1982-1986) research and 15 SFP replications found positive results:

•Improved parenting knowledge & skills

•Improved family relationships•Improved children’s social skills and behavior

SFP: Important Points

SFP is three skills courses: Parenting, Children’s, & Family Skills.

SFP skills are for all families; they are not special skills for deficient families.

SFP does make learning “Life Skills”easier for high-stress families.

SFP: a “family” is one or more adults with

long-term responsibility for one or more children; a “parent” has that responsibility.

Family Life Risk Factors

Family conflict Lack of love, care and support Weak, severe or inconsistent

discipline Lack of family traditions, rituals,

ceremonies Low expectations for school success Poor family management Lack of communication Sexual, physical or emotional abuse

Genetically Inherited Risks Difficult Temperament Rapid Tempo Autonomic Hyperactivity Lower Verbal IQ Rapid Metabolism of Alcohol Fetal Alcohol & Drug Syndrome

Biological Risk Factors

What is Resiliency? Why does one child in a family or one family in a community do well despite adversity?Resilient youth do well despite family and personal problems or set-backs.Resilient youth learn from failures and bounce-back.Resilient youth are capable of positive change after life stress.

Seven Resiliency Characteristics Caring and Empathetic

“Respect”

Wise and Insightful “Wisdom”

Happy, Optimistic“Balance”

Intelligent and Competent “Clever”

High Self-esteem “Walking Tall”

Direction, Mission or Purpose in Life “Right Path”

Determination and Perseverance

“Hard Worker”

SFP Teaches Resiliency Skills

Speaking and Listening Planning & Organizing

(family meetings) Problem Solving Peer Resistance Restoring Self-Esteem Identifying Feelings, Taking Criticism Managing Feelings, Coping with

Anger

SFP Development and History

1st research-based family program for substance abusing parents and their children

1982-1984 Developed on NIDA grant for elementary school-aged children, ages 6-11

1994 Adapted for universal families with children ages 10-14

2004 Adapted for at-risk families with children ages 12-16

2006Adapted for at-risk families with children ages 3-5

Proven effective with universal and at-risk

SFP Cultural Adaptations

African-American, rural and urban Spanish language translation Pacific Islander version Canadian version Australian version American Indian versions Swedish, English, Dutch, Spanish versions

Similar results for culturally adapted versions,but 40% better recruitment and retention

SFP in Indian CountryFeb 2008 Mashentucket Pequot Tribe – Hartford, CTSept 2007 Manitoulin Island, CanadaJuly 2007 Sioux Tribe, Sioux City, IowaMay 2007 First Nations (3), British Columbia Mar 2007 Pojoaque Pueblo - Santa Fe, NMMar 2007 Hoonah Tribe, Hoonah, Alaska Mar 2007 Mashentucket Pequot Tribe – Hartford, CT Feb 2007 Utah American Indian Tribes (IWIC) SLC UTJuly 2006 Sechelt Indian Reservation– British Columbia Apr 2006 Flathead Reservation—Polson, MTMar 2006 Mashentucket Pequot Tribe – Hartford, CTMar 2006 Chippewa-Lac du Flambeau, WIFeb 2006 Coeur du Lain, Idaho Dec 2005 Wind River Tribe, Wind River Reservation, IDNov 2005 Santee Sioux – Santee Sioux Tribe, NebraskaApr 2005 NICWA Conference - Albuquerque, NMApr 2005 Lil Wat Tribe –Whistler, B.C.Feb 2005 Southern Ute Indian Tribe - Ignacio, COOct 2004 Acoma Pueblo - Acoma, NMOct 2004 Navajo Nation/IHS - Shiprock, NMSept 2004 Shoshone-Bannock - Fort Hall, ID May 2004 Raindancer Youth Services - St. George, UTFeb 2004 Tohono O’Odhom Tribe - Tucson, AZ

Research on SFP in Indian Country

Five Feathers SFP in Ft. Hall Shoshone-Bannock (CSAP) (Dr. Collette Evans)

Strengthening Ojibwa Families (Dr. Les Whitbeck & June Smith, 2000)

Big Lake Project, Indian Walk-In Center, Salt Lake City, CSAP

Raindancer Youth Services (CSAT) Utah and New Mexico

First Nations, British Columbia

Canadian First Nations Study Family Outcomes

(Smith, 2004)

•Parental Involvement •Positive Parenting•Family Cohesion•Family Conflict

SFP in Practice

SFP: 3 Life Skills Courses: Parents, Children’s & Family Skills

All three are taught together, typically over 14 weeks

Courses can be “unbundled,” but are most effective when taught

together

SFP Typical Class Session

FAMILY STYLEMEAL

1 Hour Simultaneously+

1 Hour

CHILDGROUP

PARENTGROUP

FAMILYGROUP

A Typical Weekly Session

Dinner - families sit together, with other families & Group Leaders

1st Class Hour: Parents’ Group and Children’s Group

2nd Class Hour: families rejoin & divide into two Family Groups

Baby-sitting: for children under 6; children 11+ trained, paid as aides

Staffing Requirements

4 Group Leaders: 2 for Parent Group, 2 for Children’s Group

Top Qualifications for Leaders: sincere desire to help families learn SFP personal skills: one-to-one & group understanding why and how SFP works

Group Leaders: mix salaried and hourly contracted staff to balance teams to include men & women, ethnicities.

SFP Course Materials

3 Group Leader Manuals: Parent’s, Children’s & Family Groups - including complete lessons for all classes

2 Handbooks or Handouts: Parent’s and Children’s - worksheets, lessons

1 Implementation Manual: - including outcome, process & fidelity checks

Handbooks are included, chapter by chapter, in Group Leader Manuals

SFP Parent Results Across Five Multicultural Studies

(Kumpfer, Alvarado, Smith, & Bellamy, 2002)

↑Increased Parenting Efficacy

↑Increased Parenting Skills

↑Increased Communication

↓Decreased Stress

↓Decreased Depression

↓Decreased Substance Use

SFP Results:Child

↓ Decreased depression↓ Decreased conduct disorders↓ Decreased aggression↓ Decreased tobacco, alcohol, drug use↑ Increased cooperation↑ Increased number of pro-social friends↑ Increased social competencies↑ Increased school grades

How to Contact UsAmerican Indian

Strengthening Families ProgramCeceilia Tso, Navajo

ctso2001@yahoo.com

Strengthening Families ProgramKarol Kumpfer, PhD

karol.kumpfer@health.utah.edu

LutraGroupHenry Whiteside, PhD hwhiteside@lutragroup.com

Thank You