Parents want to protect their children, but it’s challenging. Youth needs skills to help them resist the peer pressure that leads to risky behaviors. Research shows that protective parenting improves family relationships and decreases the level of family conflict, contributing to lower levels of substance use.
Purdue Extension offers the Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 in multiple locations throughout the state.
Proven to Work
The World Health Organization named this program the #1 program out of 6,000 programs analyzed for long-term effects on substance use and misuse. This evidence-based parent, youth, and family skills-building curriculum is proven to:
- Delay the onset of adolescent substance use
- Lower levels of aggression in youth
- Increase the resistance to peer pressure in youth
- Reduce youth conduct problems in school
- Improve parent skills including building a positive relationship with their youth, setting appropriate limits, and following through on consequences, while showing love and support for their children
Program Features
- Developed for parents and youth ages 10-14
- Designed for a group of 7-10 families
- Consists of seven two-hour sessions
- Led by three certified facilitators with separate sessions for youth and parents and then families together
- Builds communication and allows parents and youth to practice skills with learning games and family projects
- Implemented in all 50 states and more than 25 countries
Benefits
Not only does Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) benefit families, but it also benefits the community.
For every dollar spent on SFP 10-14, $9.60 comes back to the community as benefits in the form of less jail time, less time off work, and less time in treatment.
Source: Spoth, Guyll, & Day (2002). Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 63, 210-228.
Learn More
Hear about the impact of Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 from family members that participated in the program, and facilitators, by watching the video at the top of the page.
Contact your local Purdue Extension HHS Educator to find the nearest location where this program is being offered, or to bring this program to your community.