About the Program
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is the first research-based parenting program specifically designed for substance-abusing parents with children ages six to 14 years old. Targeting families at high risk, the Strengthening Families Program provides a direct service by presenting a skill-building curriculum for both parents and children.
Staff/Contact Information
Karen Oliver
1625 Hertel Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y. 14216
716.831.2298, ext. 116
kowens@thepreventioncouncilec.org
97% of Strengthening Families Program children are enrolled, attended school and promoted to the next grade
Components/Curriculum
The Strengthening Families Program Topics for Youth Include:
- Group Rules
- Conversation Skills
- Social Skills, Giving and Accepting Rules
- Creating Good Behavior, Secret Rules of Success
- How to Say “no” to Trouble
- Communicating – Speaking and Listening
- Communicating – Discussing
- Alcohol and Other Drugs, Substance Abuse
- Problem Solving
- Parent’s Game, Giving Directions
- Coping Skills – Recognizing Feelings
- Coping Skills – Dealing with Criticism
- Coping Skills – Dealing with Anger
- Finding Resources for Help
Program Goals
Program goals for SFP include:
- improved parenting knowledge and skills
- improved parent/child relationships
- decreased depression in parents
- reduced family conflict
- increased family organization/cohesion
- decreased depression and conduct problems among children
- improved school success/grades
- reduced parental abuse of alcohol/drugs
- reduced use of alcohol/tobacco in children
Topics for Parents
The Strengthening Families Program Topics for Parents Include:
- Building Resiliency in Youth – Listening for Feelings – Supporting Children’s Goals
- Characteristics of pre-teens/teens and building a strong relationship
- Using “I” statements with youth
- Using consequences for misbehavior
- Setting rules and monitoring behavior
- Parents as teachers, involvement with school, protecting against drug and alcohol abuse, using parenting tools to solve problems