Strengthening Families Program
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) involves youth ages 12-17 and their entire families in 11 family training sessions using communication techniques and behavioral approaches to increase resilience and reduce risk factors.
Importance is placed on new skills offering more options rather than criticizing old skills or past behavior.
How It Works
Each session begins with a free family meal. All family members enjoy a meal together while rediscovering the lost art of communicating with each other around the kitchen table in today's hurried world.
Parents then meet separately from the youth, along with two group leaders, for an hour to learn to increase desired behaviors in children by increasing attention and rewarding positive behaviors. They also learn about clear communication, effective discipline, substance-use prevention, problem-solving and limit-setting.
Youth meet separately from the parents with two facilitators also for an hour to learn how to understand feelings, control their anger, resist peer pressure, comply with parental rules, solve problems and communicate effectively. Youth also develop their social skills and learn about the consequences of substance use. Free child care is provided for the younger children.
Program Details
During the second hour of the session, families engage together in structured family activities, conduct family meetings, learn communication skills and plan family activities.
- Age Range: 12-17 (Free child care provided for any younger children)
- Grades: 6-12
- Gender: Male and Female
- Length of Each Lesson: Two hours, plus 30 minutes for a free family meal.
- Frequency of Lesson: Weekly for 9 weeks
- Program: 11 sessions
There is no cost for the participating families.
How to get involved
If your family, or a family you know, has a need for improved communication and positive influences in the lives of the children and adults, please call 479-785-4031 or email [email protected]