Strengthening Families Program (6-11): A Community Overview for Implementation

Strengthening Families Program(6-11)

A Community Overview for ImplementationSeptember 17, 2015

Presented by:Karen Dukes-Smith

Sherri Caldwell

Ahearn Greene Associates, LP, Olney, Maryland, copywrite 2013, to be used only with express written permission of AGA. personnel. 2

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITY

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Strengthening Families Program

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

Developed on NIDA grant, 1982-1988 Developed for elementary school-aged youth,

ages 6-11 Adapted for 3-5 and 12-16 age groups Selective prevention for at-risk groups of youth

but also successful as universal Ahearn Greene Associates, LP, Olney, Maryland, copywrite 2013, to be used only with express written permission of AGA. personnel.

SFP: Four Age-Appropriate

ProgramsFamilies with Children Birth– 3

Families with Children 3-5Families with Children 6-11Families with Children 12-16


SFP: Goals and Settings SFP is therapeutic, but not therapy;

personal disclosure is not required Strong families reduce risk for many adverse

behaviors in children & teens SFP makes family life less stressful and more rewarding for parents under stress. SFP is delivered by schools,

faiths, and community agencies for voluntary, referred, required and mandated families

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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 makes 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.

Ahearn Greene Associates, LP, Olney, Maryland, copywrite 2013, to be used only with express written permission of AGA. personnel.

SFP: An Evidence-Based

Practice

Evidence-based Programs (EBP)

• EBPs or Empirically Supported Treatments (ESTs) have positive research results.

• The best EBPs are replicated programs with

large effect sizes.

Jeanie Ahearn Greene, Ahearn Greene Associates, Olney, Maryland, copy write 2012, to be used only with express written permission of

author.

SFP:How and Why

It Works

Skills Training CurriculumOverview


SFP: Three Age-Appropriate

ProgramsFamilies with Children 3-5Families with Children 6-11Families with Children 12-16


SFP (3-5/6-11/12-16): Core Curriculum Components

• Parent/youth Attachment and Bonding (Weeks 1-4)

• Parent/youth Communication/Family Organization (Weeks 5-10)

• Parental Supervision, Building Discipline (Weeks 11-13)

• Graduation


FAMILY RITUAL ACTIVITY

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Family Environment Risks• Family conflict• Lack of love, care, & support• Lack of supervision or discipline• Lack of family rituals• Low expectations for school success• Lack of communication • Sexual or physical abuse



• No • Substance

• Use

• Family • Supervision

• Family • and Peer

• Norms

• Female: (n=5,488)• Male: (n=3,023)

• Family • Bonding

• Academic • Self-Efficacy

• Self-Control

• Social and • Community • Prevention • Environment

SFP Expected to Strengthen Major Protective Factors for

Drug Use


Family Protective Processes• Parent/child attachment • Parental monitoring and discipline • Consistent, predictable parenting• Parents’ communication of values

and expectations not to use drugs


SFP Teaches Resiliency Skills• Social skills: speaking and listening• Planning & organizing: family

meetings• Problem solving• Peer resistance• Restoring self-esteem• Identifying feelings, taking criticism• Emotional management, coping with

anger


SFP Enhances Resiliency Factors

• Stresses importance of one caring adult

• Increases opportunities to help others

• Increases social skills for home & away

• Increases self-discipline Increases communication of family expectations about drugs & alcohol

• Stresses parents should help children with critical life decisions


SFP MAJOR OBJECTIVES

• Improve Family Relations• Increase Parenting Skills• Increase Children’s Skills

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SFP Component Outcomes

• Parent Training: increases parenting skills and decreases children’s conduct disorders and decreased family conflict

• Children’s Skills Training: Increased children’s social skills

• Family Skills Training: Increased family cohesion and organization; reduced parent & child alcohol/drug useAhearn Greene Associates, LP, Olney, Maryland, copywrite 2013, to be used only with express written permission of AGA. personnel.


SFP 5-Year Follow-up Results97% More quality spent time with child95% More appropriate consequences94% Increased enjoyment of the child84% Better problem solving with child75% Reduced family stress & conflict68% Holding family meetings monthly37% Holding a family meeting weekly

SFP Set-up and Staffing


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.


Family Eligibility• Youth Between Ages 6-11• Parent Willing to Participate in the

Program• Primary Care Giver- Responsible

Adult• Able to participate in a group• Can Add New Families up to Session

3, then group is closed


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 Family Group(s)• Baby-sitting: for children under 6;

(ideally, activities for children not participating in child groups)


SFP Typical Class Session

FAMILY STYLEMEAL

1 Hour Simultaneously+

1 Hour

CHILDGROUP

PARENTGROUP

FAMILYGROUP(S)


Sailboat Activity


Staffing• 2 Group Leaders in All Parent and Youth

groups• Site Coordinator on Site to Coordinate-

Does Not Lead a Group• Childcare for Younger Children• Quality: Leader’s effectiveness• Cultural Competence: Leader’s

relationship with group & Characteristics

• Able to work with individuals and groups• Understands SFP & How it Works


Top Qualifications for Leaders

Sincere desire to help families learn SFP

Interpersonal skills: one-to-one & group

Understanding why and how SFP works

Balance teams to include men & women, ethnicities


Site: Safe, Welcoming, Accessible

• 3 rooms minimum:– 1 large room for meals, baby-sitting– 2 smaller rooms for Parent’s & Children’s

groups and then Family groups • Agency site or community partner:

church, housing authority• Size: Ideally for 6-12 families. But how

big are your rooms? Your families?


“Extras” - that aren’t extras

• Meals: remove an obstacle and provide an incentive to attend

• Transportation: know what you can do to get families there

• Baby-sitting: for children under 6, activities for children over 11 years

• Small rewards for attending, home practice, progress

• A BIG graduation & party

SFP SAMPLE BUDGET(10 Families)

Site Coordinator: (14 weeks x $20/hr x 10hrs/week) $2,800 Group Leaders: (4 x 14 weeks x $15/hr x 5 hrs/week) 4,200 Food: (14 sessions x 10 families x $10/family) 2,100 Child Care: (14 wks x 2 staff x $10/hr x 3 hrs) 840 Supplies: (paper products, toys) 500 In-Session Incentives: ($75 x 10 families) 750 Completion Incentives: ($75 x 10 families) 750 Graduation Celebration: 600 Handbook Duplication: (15 parents + 20 children x $8) 280 Transportation: (variable) 700 Manual Duplication: (4 trainers x $30/set – one time) 120

Total $13,540

**Costs vary by site and in-kind contributions


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Steps to Implementation• Identify and Engage Community Partners,

Stakeholders and Intended Participant Population• Purchase of Curriculum CD for intended SFP age

group• Group Leader Training• Recruit Families• Schedule Sessions in Keeping with Community

Calendar• Arrange Transportation and Childcare/ Remove

Barriers to Attendance• Provide all SFP Fidelity Benchmarks• Seek Technical Assistance Immediately if

problems emerge• Evaluate Program for Fidelity and Outcomes, if

budget permits


Make the Program Fun!!!!!


What’s Not Clear?

QuestionsConcerns

Comments


How to Contact UsKaren Dukes-Smith, SFP Coach

Phone: 803.744.4045Email: [email protected]

Sherri L. Caldwell, SFP Coach Phone: 803.744.4024

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Strengthening Families Program (6-11): A Community Overview for Implementation

Presentations & Public Speaking