Strengthening Families Programme

The Strengthening Families Programme (SFP) involves young people aged 12-17 and their

families in a 14 week sessional programme. It seeks to improve familiy relationships, parenting skills and a young persons social and life skills.

Originally developed by Dr Karol Kumpfer and associates in the US between 1982-86

This is Karol Kumpfer

Advising the UN Office on Drugs & Crime in Vienna about SFP

3 core elements of SFP were devised

Child Behaviour Skills

Family SkillsParenting Skills

These were combined to make up the overall training aspect of the programme

Mixing it up!

A spot of Training!

In the US it is officially recognised by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, among others

SFP in IrelandThis 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)

A place for very clever people!

“Slice of pie, anyone?”

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

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 Approach in Ireland

Inter-agency

Community, Voluntary &

Statutory Sector

Top 2 Bottom Model

The programme has been delivered across a broad range of settings

In the Country

In the City

To Minority Groups

The Programme Skills are for all Families

Crisis!!??$

Not just families in crisis

SFP makes learning 'life skills' easier

An SFP 'family' is one or more adult

responsible for one or more children; a

'parent' is an adult with that responsibility

A Strengthening Families Programme:

Takes 14 weeks Teaches Parent, Teen & Family Skills Happens at the same place every week Is Adaptable to suit the mix of parents & teens

A Typical SFP Session?

Family Style Meal

Parent Session &

Teen Session - separately

Closing Family Session

Involves Everyone!

SFP Structure

Steering Group:

made up of agencies who have referred families onto the

Programme

Programme Manager

Richard Costello, Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership

Patsy Moran, Addiction Response Crumlin

Site Co-ordinator

Facilitators + Parents

Referral Agencies

Community, Voluntary or Statutory organisations can make a referral

They need to know and support the Family they refer

They need to be committed to not only supporting the Family they refer but to the success of the SFP in Dublin 12

SFP in Dublin 12

4 Programmes delivered 30+ families started

The average family attendance rate is 90% The average family completion rate is 90%

And these are some of the people who Graduated....

Thank you for reading!

Interested? Call Patsy Moran on

01-4113222