You are here: Home Programs Archives Catalyst Newsletter 2008 Volume 29, Number 1 Program Helps to Strengthen Families
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Section: What Works

Program Helps to Strengthen Families

Adding a Component For Parents and Families to Your Crime Prevention Program Can Lead to Lower Rates of Youth Crime and Substance Abuse

By Famin Ahmed, NCPC Staff

Parents play a very important role in preventing youth violence and substance abuse. Research has shown that certain approaches to parenting can make a difference when it comes to raising safe and healthy youth. Yet, few programs dealing with at-risk youth include a component for their parents.

Research has shown that parents play a critical role in the social development of children. Parents who respect, support, and offer regular supervision and consistent discipline to their children are likely to raise children who are less likely to become involved with antisocial peers or in delinquent behavior. Improving fundamental parenting practices and building strong, supportive parent-child relationships can reduce problem behaviors in high-risk children. Protective parenting improves the relationship between parents and youth and reduces the level of family conflict, which contributes to lower levels of substance use in youth.

“I doubt that there is an influence on the development of antisocial behavior among young people that is stronger than that of the family,” said Dr. Laurence Steinberg, professor of psychology at Temple University. “Among the most powerful predictors of mental health problems among children and adolescents are poor family relationships. Children whose parents are hostile and punitive, as well as those whose parents are neglectful, are at risk for developing all sorts of mental health problems, and children with mental health problems are at risk for developing patterns of antisocial and violent behavior.”

Parental Involvement

The Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10–14 (SFP 10–14)

SFP 10–14 is an Iowa State University-based curriculum that teaches families the skills they need to prevent substance abuse by their children and other behavioral problems. It also strengthens parenting skills and builds family strengths.

The curriculum consists of seven two-hour sessions for parents, youth, and families that use videos, role-playing sessions, discussions, learning games, and family projects to strengthen communication and problem-solving skills, thus building a stronger family dynamic.

Training Both Parents and Children

The sessions are two hours long. Parents and their children are separated in the first hour. The youth sessions concentrate on setting goals, dealing with stress and emotions, learning communication skills, understanding responsible behavior, and dealing with peer pressure. Parents discuss setting rules, nurturing, monitoring compliance, and applying appropriate discipline. Parents and their children are then brought together for the second hour so that they can solve problems together as a family unit. Families learn to solve problems together, building positive relationships, and identifying family values.

“Every family, no matter where you are, always wants the best for their kids,” said Catherine Webb, program assistant of SFP 10–14.

The program is most popular with schools and prevention agencies. However, numerous other groups have also implemented this program successfully. These groups include court-referred youth programs, church groups, families in low-income housing projects, families with parents who don’t speak English, and families dealing with mental health problems. A Spanish-language version of the curriculum is also available. The SFP 10–14 website also lists an estimate of costs to implement their program.

Program Outcomes

An analysis by researchers from the Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute found a return of $9.60 for every dollar spent implementing SFP 10–14. An analysis by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy found two benefits: a return of $7.82 for every dollar spent and a cost benefit of $5,805 for each participating youth in SFP 10–14.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) program rated this program “Exemplary” in its Model Programs Guide. A study that evaluated the program found fewer instances of substance use, delayed onset of substance abuse, fewer conduct problems, and better resistance to peer pressure. Results of the study also showed that program parents were better able to show affection and support and set appropriate limits for their children.

SFP 10–14 has been consistently successful among different racial and ethnic groups and has worked well in both urban and rural areas.

Tips for New Users

Webb shared some tips on recruiting parents to the program and keeping them invested and involved.

  • Target a particular grade level. Go into the classroom for part of the lesson and have students take the second part home to complete with their parents.
  • Target students at an early transition point, such as fifth or sixth grade when the youths are transitioning from elementary to middle school. This is a good time to provide them with the extra skills they’ll need to get through the transition.
  • Call parents directly off the class list and use the list for reminder calls as well.  Webb has found that once parents attend, they have a 70 to 80 percent rate of graduation from the program.
  • Offer parents incentives to attend. Include a meal as part of the training program and offer childcare options for younger siblings.
  • Offer to reimburse parents for their transportation costs—hand out gas cards or bus passes.
  • Partner with other community organizations to fund essentials and incentives for the program.

For more information about the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10–14, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp.

Other Resources and Training Programs for Parents