The Strengthening Families Program is a nationally recognized, science based, best practices program developed by Iowa State University.
The Strengthening Families Program is an opportunity for parents to learn ways to encourage good behavior using love and limits, making house rules and protecting against substance abuse. Youth will develop their goals and dreams for the future and learn to deal with stress and peer pressure.
Benefits:
Parents Learn
- What to expect from their adolescent children
- Over a dozen tools for effectively parenting teens
- How to set limits and show love during the pre-teen and teen years
Youth Learn
- How to resist peer pressure
- How to handle angry feelings and manage stress
- How to choose positive friends
- Appreciation for their parents
Community
- Decreased problem behaviors in teens
- Less teen use of drugs and alcohol
- Increased positive parenting of teans
Why Should Our Family Participate?
This is an opportunity for your family to spend time together. You will share family values, build better communication and support goals and dreams for you family. Everyone will enjoy the evenings together starting with dinner and ending with celebrating success.
7 Weekly Sessions
- This program was created for parents or caregivers and youth ages 10-14
- Seven 2-hour sessions, the last session includes a graduation celebration
- Family dinner and childcare provided
- Parents and youth meet in separate groups for the first hour
- Families have fun together and practice skills for the second hour
- Each session is filled with learning activities and games.
Session Topics
| For Parents | For Youth | For Families |
|---|---|---|
| Using love and limits | Having goals and dreams | Supporting goals and dreams |
| Encouraging good behavior | Appreciating parents | Appreciating family members |
| Building bridges | Dealing with stress | Understanding family values |
| Making house rules | Following house rules | Using family meetings |
| Protecting against substance abuse | Reaching out to others | Building family communication |
| Reaching family goals |