Strengthening Families Program For Parents and Youth 10 - 14 (SFP 10-14) was developed for Project Family, a research endeavor of the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research at Iowa State University. Project Family was directed by Richard Spoth,  Ph.D., working in collaboration with Virginia Molgaard, Ph.D., and supported by Iowa State University Extension to Families.

SFP 10-14 resulted from a major revision of the earlier Strengthening Families Program (SFP) developed by Karol Kumpfer and associates at the University of Utah. The original SFP was developed for substance-abusing parents and their children 6 to 10 years of age. *The program described in this Web site should not be confused with the original Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for younger children and parents. Note that in the published articles the SPF 10-14 is often referred to as the Iowa Strengthening Families Program (ISFP).

Timeline

• Original SFP developed in 1986 and tested with diverse audiences, University of Utah, 1986 - 1998
• Major revision of SFP for pre- and young adolescents, 1993 (Originally called the Iowa Strengthening Families Program - ISFP)
• Scientific evaluation of ISFP in rural community settings, Project Family, 1993 - 2008
• Focus groups and revision of ISFP for diverse families, 1997, renamed Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14
• Scientific evaluation of SFP 10-14 with Life Skills Training,Capable Families and Youth Project, 1997- 2007
• Scientific evaluation of SFP 10-14 with African American families, Harambee Project, 1997 - 2002 Scientific evaluation of SFP 10-14 and community infrastructure,
• Promoting School-Community-University Partnerships for Capable Youth and Families and Positive Youth Development (PROSPER), 2002 - 2007
• Ongoing training across the country, 1997- present
• International Adaptations: Sweeden, U.K., Central America, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Norway, 2002-present

*Differences Between SFP and SFP 10-14
The programs are the same in format and overall goals; differences between the two programs include intended audience (age and degree of risk), risk and protective factors addressed, teaching methods and topics.

Theoretical Background
Several etiological and intervention models (e.g., a biophysical vulnerability model, a resiliency model, and a family process model linking family stress and adolescent adjustment) influenced the development of SFP 10–14. For more information, see: Competency Training--The Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14, Virginia K. Molgaard, Richard L. Spoth, and Cleve Redmond, Juvenile Justice Bulletin, August 2000