USA
Strengthening Families Program
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a nationally and internationally recognized parenting and family strengthening program for high-risk and regular families. SFP is an evidence-based family skills training program found to significantly reduce problem behaviors, delinquency, and alcohol and drug abuse in children and to improve social competencies and school performance. Child maltreatment also decreases as parents strengthen bonds with their children and learn more effective parenting skills.
The original 14-session evidence-based SFP for high-risk families with children ages 6 to 11 years (SFP6-11) was developed and tested in the mid 1980s by Dr. Kumpfer on a NIDA research grant with children of substance abusing parents. Subsequent randomized control trials (RCTs) have found similar positive results with families in many different ethnic groups. Both culturally adapted versions and the core version of SFP have been found effective with African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and First Nations families. SFP is in 26 countries with language translations into Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Slovenian, Russian, Tai, Burmese, Chinese and other languages.
In the early 1990's, Drs. Kumpfer and Molgaard Co-PIs on an Iowa State University grant developed a shorter 7-session version for low-risk families with pre- and early teens (SFP10-14). In the 2000s new 14-session versions for high-risk families with both younger children (SFP3-5) and early teens (SFP12-16) were developed by Drs. Kumpfer and Whiteside and replicated in multiple agencies in the USA and Europe with better results than the research RCT studies (Kumpfer, Greene, Whiteside & Allen, 2010, Kumpfer, Xie, & O'Driscoll, 2012).
In 2011 a new 10-session Home-Use DVD version (SFP 7-17) and group curriculum was developed by Drs. Kumpfer and Whiteside and Jaynie Brown. It has been pilot tested in schools with excellent results that are equivalent to the prior tested SFP versions (Kumpfer & Brown, 2011). The new universal prevention versions use the same research-proven content and principles and add research on the impact of alcohol and drug use on the developing teen brain. The Home Use DVD is for parents and children to watch together in their own homes, and has ten 30-minute lessons plus a short Introductory Lesson featuring healthy brain development. Handouts for each lesson can be printed off the DVD when placed in a computer. To order the DVD, use the "Buy Now" buttons at the bottom of the Home-Use DVD page.
In the more than 30 years since its development, SFP has been reviewed by researchers and rated as an exemplary, evidence-based program. It has been approved for implementation with federal and state funds by:
The White House Office of the First Lady Helping
America’s Youth (HAY)
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE)
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
