Strengthening Families Program – 12-16

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

The Strengthening Families Program – 12-16 (SFP 12-16) is a parent and family skills training program designed to serve families with teens ages 12–16. The program is designed to serve the general population and at-risk families, including families experiencing parental substance use issues, teen substance use, and teen behavioral problems. SFP 12-16 aims to help parents increase their teen’s protective factors, such as coping skills; reduce their teen’s risk factors, such as behavioral problems; and communicate with their teens about peer pressure, sex, and relationships.

 

SFP 12-16 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, teen’s skills training, and family skills training. During the first half of each session, parents and teens meet separately for parent skills training and teen’s skills training, held simultaneously. During the second half of each session, parents and teens meet together for family skills training.

 

During parent skills training, trained group leaders teach parents skills to promote positive teen behavior. Skills include how to use rewards, set limits, communicate, and problem solve. Parents also learn how to support their teens in handling peer pressure and talk to their teens about relationships, love, and sexuality. During teen’s skills training, trained group leaders teach teens social, communication, refusal, problem solving, and coping skills. Teens also learn how to handle peer pressure, and talk about friends, dating, sexuality, and substance use.

 

During family skills training, families participate in structured activities including writing goals and dreams, teen-directed one-on-one time with their parents, discussing problem scenarios, and role playing. 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 and teens are asked to practice these skills with their teens in between group sessions if possible.


SFP 12-16 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 12-16 is designed to serve the general population and at-risk families with teens ages 12–16, including, but not limited to, families experiencing parental substance use issues, teen substance use, and teen behavioral problems.

Dosage

SFP 12-16 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 12-16 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 two group leaders facilitate the teen’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 12-16. Trainings are facilitated by Master SFP 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, Teen’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. (2014). The Strengthening Families Program 12-16: Parent skills training, group leader’s manual. Alta Institute.

Kumpfer, K. L. (2014). The Strengthening Families Program 12-16: Teen’s skills training, group leader’s manual. Alta Institute.

Kumpfer, K. L. (2014). The Strengthening Families Program 12-16: Family skills training, group leader’s manual. Alta Institute.

Available languages

SFP 12-16 manuals are available in English, Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Thai.

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 – 12-16
Identified in Search 7
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 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 11384

Kumpfer, K. L., Xie, J., & O'Driscoll, R. (2012). Effectiveness of a culturally adapted Strengthening Families Program 12–16 years for high-risk Irish families. Child & Youth Care Forum, 41(2), 173-195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-011-9168-0

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

Study 11385

Kumpfer, K. L., & Brown, J. L. (2019). A parenting behavior intervention (the Strengthening Families Program) for families: Noninferiority trial of different program delivery methods. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 2(2), e14751. https://doi.org/10.2196/14751

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

Study 12940

Kumpfer, K. L., Greene, J. A., Bates, R. F., Cofrin, K., Whiteside, H. O. (2006). State of New Jersey Strengthening Families Program substance abuse prevention initiative: Year two program evaluation report. Lutra Group.

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

Study 12941

Kumpfer, K. L., Cofrin, K., & Greene, J. A. (2012). Strengthening Families Program community substance abuse prevention initiative: 2011 - 2012 evaluation report. Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc.

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

Study 12943

Orte, C., Ballester, Ll., Amer, J., & Vives, M. (2019). Building family resilience through an evidence-based program: Results from the Spanish Strengthening Families Program. The Family Journal, 27(4), 409-417. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480719872753

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).