Strengthening Families Programme

This is an article that appeared in the Examiner on Tuesday 13th January..

 IT IS not just drug users who can benefit from seeking help. Cork is leading the country in its implementation of a pioneering programme that seeks to heal families affected by drugs.
The Strengthening Families Programme (SFP) is a nationally and internationally recognised scheme for high-risk families, targeting 14 to 18-year-olds in particular. Those participating in the scheme may do so because of drug abuse, behavioural problems, aggression or loss of communication or violence.

The entire family must commit to a 14-week programme based around learning skills that will lead to responsible decision-making on issues such as drugs, alcohol and addressing conflict in the home.

Up and running in Cork since 2007, SFP is now being introduced to communities across the country.

A 14 week family skills programme that is internationally recognised as being the best intervention based programme to offer support and training to families who have issues of drugs and alcohol abuse is being supported in the region.

This evidence based programme was first presented here in Ireland at Trinity College Ireland Addiction Research Centres annual conference in September 2005 by Dr. Karol Kumpfer (University of Utah)...

Following this, Drug and Alcohol Services H.S.E. south and Cork Local Drugs Task Force and Southern Regional Drugs Task Force arranged training for nearly 50 professionals in March 2006 which was received with great enthusiasm.

Arbour House Youth Drug and Alcohol Services then took the initiative and in conjunction with Community based Drug Projects, Probation Services, Liberty Street Homeless Services and Your Equal piloted and implemented the “Strengthening Families Programme”.

The Strengthening Families Programme is a 14 session family skills training programme designed to increase resilience and reduce the risk factors for substance misuse, depression, violence and aggression, involvement in crime, and school failure in high risk, 13-17 year old children and their parents.

Positive results from over 15 independent research replications demonstrate that the programme is robust and effective in increasing assets and protective factors by improving family relationships, parenting skills, and improving youths social and life skills

The SFP curriculum includes three courses (Parent skills training, Teen skills training and Family life skills training) taught in 14 two-hour periods. In the first hour, parents and children participate in separate classes; each class is led by 2 co-facilitators. 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, coping with criticism, stress management, social skills, problem solving, resisting peer pressure, consequences of substance use and compliance with parental rules. During the second hour families practice structuring family activities, family meetings, communication skills, effective discipline, reinforcing positive behaviours in each other, and jointly planning family activities.