Strengthening Families Program – 3-5

Mental Health Substance Use Prevention or Treatment Does Not Currently Meet Criteria

The Strengthening Families Program – 3-5 (SFP 3-5) is a parent and family skills training program designed to serve families with children ages 3–5. The program is designed to serve the general population and at-risk families, including families experiencing parental substance use issues and child behavioral problems. SFP 3-5 aims to help parents increase their children’s protective factors, such as coping skills, and reduce their children’s risk factors, such as behavioral problems.

 

SFP 3-5 consists of multi-family group sessions. Before each session, families and trained group leaders have a sit-down meal together where group leaders provide support, guidance, and praise and get to know families on a more personal level. Each session contains three components: parent skills training, children’s skills training, and family skills training. During the first half of each session, parents and children meet separately for parent skills training and children’s skills training, held simultaneously. During the second half of each session, parents and children meet together for family skills training.

 

During parent skills training, trained group leaders teach parents skills to promote positive child behavior. Skills include how to use rewards, set limits, communicate, and problem solve. During children’s skills training, trained group leaders teach children social, communication, refusal, problem solving, and coping skills using age-appropriate activities to mirror the activities taught to older children in the SFP 3-5 curriculum.

 

During family skills training, families participate in structured activities, including child-directed play and parent-led arts and crafts. These activities provide an opportunity for families to practice the skills they learned during the first half of the session and receive support and guidance from group leaders. Additionally, parents are asked to practice these skills with their children in between group sessions, if possible.


SFP 3-5 does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies met eligibility criteria for review.


Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Mar 2022


Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manuals, the program or service developer’s website, and the California Evidence Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.


This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.

Target Population

SFP 3-5 is designed to serve the general population and at-risk families with children ages 3–5, including, but not limited to, families experiencing parental substance use issues and child behavioral problems.

Dosage

SFP 3-5 is delivered over 14 weekly multi-family group sessions of at least four families and no more than 14 families. The recommended group size is 6–12 families depending on site and implementation-specific factors. Each session lasts approximately 2 hours. Trained group leaders may offer optional booster sessions to families or facilitate ongoing family support groups once families have completed the 14-week program.

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

SFP 3-5 can be delivered in a range of settings, including schools, churches, community centers, and community-based organizations.

Education, Certifications and Training

During each session, two trained group leaders facilitate the parent skills training group, and at least two group leaders facilitate the children’s skills training group. Group facilitation skills and experience working with or parenting children is recommended. It is also helpful for group leaders to have knowledge of behavioral psychology or token economies.

Group leaders are encouraged to complete a 2-day training prior to delivering SFP 3-5. Trainings are facilitated by Master SPF Trainers. After training, it is recommended that SFP Purveyors conduct site visits to evaluate new group leaders’ fidelity to the program model. SFP Purveyors also provide implementation supports including technical assistance, program evaluation, fidelity monitoring, site visits, and quality assurance.

Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

The Implementation Manual is implemented in conjunction with the Parent Skills Training, Children’s Skills Training, and Family Skills Training Group Leader’s Manuals.

Kumpfer, K. L. (2017). The Strengthening Families Program: Implementation manual. Alta Institute.

Kumpfer, K. L. (2015). The Strengthening Families Program 3-5: Parent skills training, group leader’s manual. Alta Institute.

Kumpfer, K. L. (2015). The Strengthening Families Program 3-5: Children's skills training, group leader’s manual. Alta Institute.

Kumpfer, K. L. (2015). The Strengthening Families Program 3-5: Family skills training, group leader’s manual. Alta Institute.

Available languages

SFP 3-5 manuals are available in English.

Other supporting materials

About the Strengthening Families Program

Training Information

Frequently Asked Questions

For More Information

Website: www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org

Email: strengtheningfamiliestraining@gmail.com

 


Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Results of Search and Review Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Strengthening Families Program – 3-5
Identified in Search 6
Eligible for Review 0
Rated High 0
Rated Moderate 0
Rated Low 0
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm 0

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.




Studies Not Eligible for Review

Study 11335

Brook, J., McDonald, T. P., & Yan, Y. (2012). An analysis of the impact of the Strengthening Families Program on family reunification in child welfare. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(4), 691-695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.12.018

Johnson-Motoyama, M., Brook, J., Yan, Y., & McDonald, T. P. (2013). Cost analysis of the Strengthening Families Program in reducing time to family reunification among substance-affected families. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(2), 244-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.11.008

Akin, B. A., Brook, J., Lloyd, M. H., & McDonald, T. P. (2017). Effect of a parenting intervention on foster care reentry after reunification among substance-affected families: A quasi-experimental study. Child Maltreatment, 22(3), 194-204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559517702743

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 11341

Ayer, L., Setodji, C., Schultz, D., Jaycox, L. H., & Kofner, A. (2017). Change in externalizing problems over time among ethnic minority youth exposed to violence. Children and Youth Services Review, 82, 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.09.010

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 11383

Kumpfer, K. L., Whiteside, H. O., Greene, J. A., & Allen, K. C. (2010). Effectiveness outcomes of four age versions of the Strengthening Families Program in statewide field sites. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 14(3), 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020602 

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 11410

Brook, J., Akin, B. A., Lloyd, M., Bhattarai, J., & McDonald, T. P. (2016). The use of prospective versus retrospective pretests with child-welfare involved families. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(9), 2740-2752. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0446-1

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 12933

Greene, J. A., & Cofrin, K. A. (2015). Strengthening Families Program initiative: 2014-2015 evaluation report. Horizon Behavioral Health Child & Family Parent Center.

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible publication source (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.2).

Study 12934

Greene, J. A., Kumpfer, K. L., Cofrin, K. A., & Xie, J. (2015). Strengthening Families Program initiative: 2014-2015 evaluation report. Catholic Charities/Pierre Toussaint Center.

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible publication source (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.2).