Other Versions of the SFP
The original Strengthening Families Program (SFP) was first developed by Dr. Karol Kumpfer and associates at the University of Utah in the United States in 1983, with funding from the US National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA). Other research practitioners have developed adaptations of SFP for different target groups, the most notable is the shorter 7-session SFP version for 10-14 year olds (SFP10-14) developed by Dr. Virginia Molgaard and Dr. Kumpfer also with NIDA funding.
The original Strengthening Families Program (SFP) involves not just parents or children alone, but the whole family. It was developed specifically as a selective prevention strategy for 6 to 12 year old high-risk children of substance-abusing parents. The original SFP aims to improve children's pro-social behaviours, mental status, and grades combined with reductions in aggression, violent behaviours, and substance use.
SFP builds on protective factors by improving family relationships, parenting skills, and improving a youth's social and life skills. SFP has been modified for African American families, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanic and American Indian families, rural families, and families with early teens. Although originally developed for children of high-risk substance abusers, SFP is widely used with non-substance abusing parents.
The original SFP curriculum includes three 14-week courses: Parent Training, Children's Skills Training and Family Life Skills Training. Parents learn to increase desired behaviours in children by using attention and rewards, clear communication, effective discipline, substance use education, problem solving and limit setting. Children learn effective communication, understanding feelings, social skills, problem solving, resisting peer pressure, consequences of substance use, and compliance with parental rules. During the second hour families engage in structured family activities, practice therapeutic child play, conduct family meetings, learn communication skills, practice effective discipline, reinforce positive behaviours in each other, and plan family activities together. SFP uses creative retention strategies such as special incentives for attendance, good behaviour in children, and homework completion.
Further details of the original SFP and other adapted versions of the SFP can be found at www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org.