Curriculum

Mother and Son

The updated Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 Facilitator Manual was released in July 2015; this version has the same content with clarification on few activities. Replacement pages are no longer available. If your manual is older than that, you should purchase a new manual. Materials are available for purchase to individuals who have been trained or recertified to facilitate SFP 10-14 within the last three years. Verification of training is required to purchase materials.

The Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) is delivered in seven parent, youth, and family sessions using narrated videos portraying typical youth and parent situations with diverse families.

The program is taught with 7-10 families over seven weeks, usually in the evenings. It is recommended that the group size be smaller when dealing with families where parents have begun to have concerns over the problematic behavior of their youth.

This scientifically tested curriculum:

  • helps parents/caregivers learn nurturing skills that support their children,
  • teaches parents/caregivers how to discipline and guide their youth effectively,
  • gives youth a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents/caregivers, and
  • teaches youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure.
The program addresses youth risk and protective factors:
Risk Factors
  • Aggressive or withdrawn behavior
  • Negative peer influence
  • Poor school performance
  • Lack of pro-social goals
  • Poor relationship with parents
Protective Factors
  • Positive future orientation
  • Peer pressure resistance skills
  • Pro-social peer relationships
  • Positive management of emotions
  • Empathy with parents

Sample curriculum

Download pieces of the SFP 10-14 curriculum:

Outline - Parent, Youth, and Family Sessions 1 - 7

Curriculum - Parent, Youth, Family Session 1

Sessions

Parents and youth meet in separate groups for the first hour and together as families during the second hour to practice skills, play games, and do family projects. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects.

  • Parent sessions consist of presentations, role-plays, group discussions, and other skill-building activities.
  • Youth sessions engage each youth in small and large group discussions, group skill practice, and social bonding activities.
  • Family sessions use specially designed games and projects to increase family bonding, build positive communication skills, and facilitate learning to solve problems together.

Basic Topics (7 Sessions)

 Parent

 Youth

 Family  

  • Using Love and Limits
  • Making House Rules
  • Encouraging Good Behavior
  • Using Consequences
  • Building Bridges
  • Protecting Against Substance Abuse
  • Using Community Resources
  • Having Goals and Dreams
  • Appreciating Parents
  • Dealing with Stress
  • Following Rules
  • Handling Peer Pressure I
  • Handling Peer Pressure II
  • Reaching Out To Others
  • Supporting Goals and Dreams
  • Appreciating Family Members
  • Using Family Meetings
  • Understanding Family Values
  • Building Family Communication
  • Reaching Our Goals
  • Putting It All Together and Graduation

Four optional booster sessions can be held three to twelve months after the basic sessions.
Note: Booster materials are currently under revision. Updated materials are expected to be available December 2023.

Booster Topics (4 Sessions)

 Parent

 Youth

 Family  

  • Handling Stress
  • Communicating When You Don't Agree
  • Reviewing Love and Limits Skills
  • Reviewing How to Help with Peer Pressure
  • Handling Conflict
  • Making Good Friends
  • Getting the Message Across
  • Practicing Our Skills
  • Understanding Each Other
  • Listening to Each Other
  • Understanding Family Roles
  • Using Family Strengths