PROSPER Partnership-Strengthening Families Program

Problem:
Programs teaching parenting skills for parents of middle-school age youth and preventing substance use and other risky behaviors for the youth are difficult to recruit audiences to attend and challenging to fund. The Strengthening Families Program, a 7 week program for 6th graders and their parents was made available through the PROSPER Project, starting in 2002 and funded for two years. Funding and recruitment for the program has been the task of the Fort Dodge PROSPER Team since then.

Response:
The Fort Dodge PROSPER Team is made up of 11 community representatives. Co-leaders are Paulelda at Extension and Marcy Harms at Fort Dodge Schools. Three Middle School Principals, Juvenile Court School Liaisons, Substance Abuse Educators, Counselors, a Substance Prevention Coalition Coordinator and parent representative make up the team. The team has used the media, direct mailings, and having previous youth participants talk to 6th grade youth as recruitment tools over the last two years. A “callathon” to all parents of 6th graders who have not signed up is conducted by team members.

The team has also been creative in fund-raising. Paulelda has written applications to local foundations and businesses. The Team followed up with letters and phone calls to businesses for funding the Strengthening Families Program that costs about $300/family. There is also an in-school curriculum, called Life Skills Training for all 7th and 8th grade youth that is conducted as part of the PROSPER Partnership.

Impact:
In 2005 the Fort Dodge PROSPER Team successfully raised the $18,000 necessary to conduct the Strengthening Families Program for 60 families. Though school enrollment declines, a similar number of families were recruited and graduated (attended 5 out of 7 sessions) for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004.

In 2006, over 100 families attended at least one session with 83 families graduating from the Strengthening Families Program. This was a huge increase in recruitment and participation over previous years, especially as school enrollments decline (about 350 6th grade families in the community). Typical recruitment rates for parenting programs range from 1%-6%. In Fort Dodge our graduation rate is at 24%.

To meet the costs of this program $21,400 was raised. Twenty-seven businesses and service organizations provided funding for 2006.

The real impact is in the responses of the families reached. Sixth graders said: “You learn about how to avoid peer pressure.” “We get along better as a family.” “I enjoyed the one-on-one time with my parents.” Parents said: “We learned new ideas for parenting and solutions for problems.” “We realized we are not the only parents going through these issues.” “There is less yelling, more praise and we listen better in our home.”

The data collected so far by ISU for this project says that families participating in the Strengthening Families Program show more consistent discipline, less harsh discipline and better family cohesion.

With the needs of families growing, to have a research-based program that is reaching almost a third of the target families with improved parenting skills, communication skills and youth with skills to be responsible citizens…we hope to have great impact on reducing substance abuse and risky behaviors in teens through the high school years.

Contact:
Paulelda Gilbert, Nutrition & Health Field Specialist
108 S 8th Street, Fort Dodge, IA  50501
Phone 515-576-2119;  Fax:  515-576-6447
Email pgilbert@iastate.edu