Invitation to Attend Training: 14 & 15 March 2011
Location: Skibbereen
This programme is being brought to West Cork as part of an initiative led by the Social Work Department in conjunction with the Probation Service and the Local Drugs Task Force. We are currently recruiting individuals to learn how the programme works and to become facilitators.
If you would like to discuss how taking part can be a positive element of your own work or how it help make a difference to your community please contact Steven Peet on 028 40455 or 0867872241 or e-mail
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to register.
The skills learned in the SF programme can be used in your own individual work with children and families. The commitment required is that you would be willing to take part in one of the upcoming families programmes which will take places around West Cork. The next planned families group will be run in September 2011. Each project needs between 5 and 7 facilitators and we are planning to build up a group of 20 to 30 individuals so we are not expecting each attendee to consider doing more than one course in any one year.
The programme takes the form of 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, 13-18 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 – further details can be found at http://www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/ or just do a search in general.
The SFP curriculum includes three courses (Parent Skills, Teen Skills 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 two 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.
