Strengthening Families Program (SFP)

Brief Description

The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) aims to reduce problem behaviours, delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse in children and youth and to improve social competencies and school performance.

The program is centered on conflict resolution; counselling and social work; family therapy; leadership and youth development; mentoring – tutoring; parent training; skills training; social emotional learning; and substance prevention/treatment.

Goals

The main goals of the SFP are to:

• Reduce youth’s behavioural problems (violence, delinquency, aggression, etc.);
• Decrease the use and temptation to use drugs, alcohol and tobacco; and
• Increase family cohesion, communication, and organization.

Clientele

The appropriate clientele for the SFP is high-risk children and youth aged 6 to 16 years old as well as their parents or caregivers; parents/caregivers include biological parents, step- and adoptive parents, foster parents, and grandparents. The SFP 6-11 targets children and youth aged 6 to 11 years old and SPF 12-16 targets youth aged 12 to 16 years old. The risk factors for youth in the program include behavioural issues, poor family cohesion (relationships), poor academic performance, and drug use in the family.

Core Components

The SFP consists of 14 consecutive weekly sessions (which can be adapted to fit the school setting, among others), including the following three core components:

• Child/youth classes, which include skills training content (i.e., communication skills to improve parent, peer, and teacher relationships), resiliency skills, problems solving, resistance to peer pressure, anger management, and coping skills;
• Parenting classes, which review appropriate developmental expectations and teach parents to interact positively with children, create positive family communication, including active listening and reducing criticism, and establish family meetings to improve order, organization, and effective and consistent discipline including consequences and time-outs; and
• Family practice classes, which allow the parents and children time to practice what they learn in their individual classes in experiential exercises. This is also a time for the group leaders to coach and encourage family members to improve parent/child interactions.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: It is important to incorporate the youth’s families in the program. This will help parents acquire the information necessary to improve their parenting and family management skills.
• Partnerships: Organizations should collaborate with schools, school boards, police services, and other community-based organizations.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Promising
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: No effects (more than one study)
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: 2.8 - 3.3
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

In total, from 2010 to 2023, 15 organizations will have been supported by Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy to implement the SFP. As of 2023, 6 organizations are still implementing the SFP. 

Programs are classified alphabetically:^Footnote1

• Community-Based Replication of a Best Practice Model of Family Strengthening to Reduce Substance Abuse and Drug related Activities (Côte des Neiges Black Community Association) (Quebec) (2011-2016) (process evaluation completed)
• Crime Prevention through the Strengthening of Youth, Families and the Community (City of Prince George) (British Columbia) (2014-2019) (performance monitoring and assessment completed)
• Early Intervention Police (Saskatoon Police Service) (Saskatchewan) (2016-2021) (performance monitoring and assessment in progress)
• Ensemble pour prévenir (Aux Trois Pivots) (Québec) (2017-2022) (process and outcome evaluation completed; see study #1)
• Expanding Community Led Prevention Capacity (Côte des Neiges Black Community Association) (Québec) (2016-2021) (performance monitoring and assessment in progress)
• Iliqusittigut Makigiarniq SFP project (The Iqaluit Community Tukisigiarvik Society) (Nunavut) (2015-2020) (performance monitoring and assessment in progress)
• La Loche Strengthening Families Program (La Loche Friendship Centre) (Saskatchewan) (2014-2019) (performance monitoring and assessment completed)
• Le projet Appui aux familles: une adaptation francophone du programme Strengthening Families pour les enfants de 6 à 11 ans (Centre Dollard-Cormier Institut universitaire sur les dépendances – CDC-IUQ) (Quebec) (2010-2015) (completed process evaluation)
• Our House Your House (East Metro Youth Services) (Ontario) (2016-2019) (process and outcome evaluation completed; see study #2)
• Strengthening Families Program (Boys and Girls Club of Summerside Inc.) (Prince Edward Island) (2016-2020) (performance monitoring and assessment in progress)
• Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for At-Risk Youth (Uncles and Aunts at Large Society) (Alberta) (2014-2019) (process and outcome evaluation completed; see study #3)
• Strengthening Families Quesnel (North Cariboo Aboriginal Family Program Society) (British Columbia) (2014-2019) (process and outcome evaluation completed; see study #4)
• The Journey Home (Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support & Integration) (Ontario) (2017-2021) (performance monitoring and assessment in progress)
• The Pas Strengthening Families Project (The Pas Family Resource Centre Inc.) (Manitoba) (2014-2019) (performance monitoring and assessment completed)
• Wahkohotowin – Strenthening Families Project (Ka Ni Kanichihk, Inc.) (Manitoba) (2016-2021)  (performance monitoring and assessment in progress)

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

Study 1

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study of Ensemble pour prévenir was carried out between 2018 and 2022 by Sylvie Hamel and colleagues from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, with results focusing on participants that completed the program between January 2018 and December 2019 before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation methodology included a mixed-methods design, including qualitative (e.g., interviews) and quantitative (e.g., questionnaires) measures.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• 145 participants, comprised of 68 parents and 77 youth from a total of 57 families, completed the program with the majority of participants completing more than 10 sessions.
• Pre- and post-program scores on measures of self-disclosure and family values either remained stable or improved for both parents and youth that participated in the program.
• Overall, youth also saw reinforcement or improvement in the areas of family involvement and coping strategies, while parents saw reinforcement or improvement in the areas of providing support and communication between family members.
• Results from the qualitative portion of the evaluation highlighted that participants (parents and youth) found that the program helped them improve their communication, resolve conflicts, engage in more appropriate acts of discipline, strengthen their familial relationships, feel less isolated and a stronger sense of community with the other participants going through similar experiences.

Study 2

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study to evaluate the results of the Our House Your House program was carried out between November 2014 and July 2019 by Astwood Strategy Corporation. The evaluation methodology included a repeated measures design where custom and standardized measures and other data collection occurred at four intervals (both quantitative and qualitative tools were employed). Also, the evaluator sought to determine the feasibility of using a control group or comparison population design, to ensure that issues of attribution could be addressed.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• There was a statistically significant decrease from pre- to post-treatment on all subscales (Child Behaviour Checklist).
• Youth had further significant decreases in all scales except thought problems (scales include: anxious/depressed; withdrawn/depressed; social problems; attention problems; rule-breaking behaviour; aggressive behaviour; externalizing behaviour; affective problems; anxiety problems; attention deficit problems; oppositional defiance; and conduct problems).
• Statistical analysis by gender and risk show that girls had greater outcomes in the pre to post program intervals.
• Interviews with participants demonstrated the program’s beneficial effect on parent/child conflict, parent/child communication, overall family relationship and family decision making, with many parents noting youth showed improved respect to them as parents, more compliance with direction/guidance, reduction in youth rule breaking and less conflict between siblings.

For more information, refer to Chettleburgh’s (2019) publication.

Study 3

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study to evaluate the results of the Strengthening Families Program for At-Risk Youth was carried out between November 2014 and October 2019 by Astwood Strategy Corporation. The evaluation methodology included a repeated measures design where custom and standardized measures and other data collection occurred at various program intervals.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• An enhanced ability to deal with anger or frustration was the most frequently reported behaviour change reported by parents (84%).
• The majority of parents reported improved outlook on life (78%) and improved self-esteem in youth (73%).
• Evidence demonstrates that the program improved internalizing behaviour of participants (behaviours related to aggression, conflict, rule breaking and overt conduct problems).
• The short-term program effect size from pre to post program was greater for girls than for boys for social problems, attention problems, anxiety problems and attention deficit problems.
• There is limited evidence from standardized instruments that the program has had a positive effect in social and personal competencies relating to coping abilities.
• There was a statistically significant increase from pre- to post-treatment on all parent-rated behavioural and emotional strength except that the change in school function from pre- to post-test was not significant.
• There is evidence of statistical significant improvements in family functioning.

For more information, refer to Chettleburgh & Rachynski’s (2020) publication.

Study 4

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study to evaluate the results of Strengthening Families Quesnel was carried out between February 2014 and February 2019 by Applied Solutions & Consulting Inc. The evaluation methodology included a pre-exit-follow-up quasi-experimental design without a comparison group. In order to increase participation, data collection methods and tools were adapted to pre- and exit-assessment questionnaires. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis was used and obtained through questionnaires, interviews, project records, and focus groups.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• Positive changes related to youth managing emotions.
• Although not statistically significant, data indicated a trend towards less frequent antisocial behaviour.
• Target youth were found to score low in both relational and overt aggression, which remained consistent across the three times of data collection; substance use frequency was not found to change from pre-test to exit; and hostile family relations were found to decrease for caregivers, and occurred sometimes for target youth, while the frequency remained consistent.
• Overall, analysis identified trends relating to positive improvements in deviant behaviour and family functioning (improvements in their behaviour and family dynamics; learned strategies to manage problematic behaviour; and established strong networks).

For more information, refer to Frigon’s (2019) publication.

Cost Information

A cost analysis was conducted on Ensemble pour prévenir. The findings from this study have shown the following:

• From April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019, the total cost of the program was $400,550.63, with the program servicing approximately 119 participants across the eight cohorts that completed the program during this period.
• The estimated cost per participant was approximately $3,365.97.

In 2019, as part of Astwood Strategy Corporation’s outcome evaluation study, it was found that the average cost per youth participant in the Our House Your House program was $6,286 (CAD) while the average cost per youth graduate of the program was $8,440 (CAD).

In 2019, as part of Applied Solutions & Consulting Inc.’s outcome evaluation study, it was found that the average cost per youth who attended the 14-week session Strengthening Families Quesnel program was $14,830 (CAD) per youth who participated and $20,455 (CAD) per youth who completed.

In 2020, as part of Astwood Strategy Corporation’s outcome evaluation study, it was found that the average cost per youth participant in the Strengthening Families Program for At-Risk Youth was $11,575 (CAD) while the average cost per youth graduate of the program was $14,823 (CAD).

References

Chettleburgh, M. C. (2019). Strengthening Families Program: Our House Your House. Final Evaluation Report. Submitted to Public Safety Canada (Unpublished report).

Chettleburgh, M. C. & Rachynski, L. (2020). Strengthening Families Program: Uncles and Aunts at Large Society. Final Evaluation Report. Submitted to Public Safety Canada (Unpublished report).

Frigon, A. (2019). Strengthening Families Program Quesnel. Final Evaluation Report. Submitted to Public Safety Canada (Unpublished report).

Hamel, S., Lepage, A.-A., Lacharité, C., & Cantinotti, M. (2023). Ensemble pour prévenir: Plan détaillé pour rapport final. [Unpublished final evaluation report]. Submitted to Public Safety Canada.

For more information on this program, contact:

Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Utah
Karol Kumpfer
1901 East South Campus Drive, room 2142
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Telephone: (801) 582-1562
E-mail: karol.kumpfer@health.utah.edu
Website: http://www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/