Professional training by experienced Strengthening Families Program trainers is required in order to be certified to teach the Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14). Training helps ensure program fidelity, making it more likely that there will be positive outcomes for youth and parents. To be certified, groups of at least three facilitators per program site must receive training. One facilitator teaches the parent group, two facilitators teach the youth group, and all three facilitators work with families in the family session.

Three-day Certification Training:
The recommended training takes place over three days and includes information on program background, evaluation results, risk and protective factors addressed, program philosophy, and use of the pre-post test for parents and youth. Participants take part in curriculum activities so they are well-prepared to teach the program. The three-day format allows time for group discussion and question and answer periods. Typically each day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. Morning and afternoon breaks, as well as a lunch break, allow for a relatively relaxed schedule. The schedule allows time for a detailed discussion of recruitment and retention, as well as implementation details for recruiting and retention and options for providing child care, transportation, food and incentives.
Cost - $4000 plus travel for one trainer (10-15 participants) plus travel for two trainers (16-35 participants).

Two-day Certification Training (to be discontinued February 1, 2009):
A two-day training is sometimes offered for groups with serious budget constraints. The daily schedule is 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Most activities are covered but there is less time for group discussion and questions. The two-day format is not appropriate for groups who need to make adaptations for different ethnic groups or for groups who plan to do a scientific evaluation of the program.
Cost - $3000 plus travel for one trainer (10-15 participants) plus travel for two trainers (16-35 participants).

Alternative to hosting an on-site training
Teams of three individuals may attend scheduled trainings in other locations, typically in other states, if the host site has room. Registration is set by the host site and is typically $300 per person. Adding airfare, lodging, and per diem for three people often brings the cost close to the expense of hosting training on site.