Tools for Living/Prevention
Strengthening Families
To support the needs of parents and youth, Capital City Community Centers operates a proven-effective prevention program called Strengthening Families.
The Strengthening Families Program is designed for parents and youth concerned about substance abuse, seeking to become more effective parents, and desperate to keep the lines of communication open. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive, family-centered approach, Iowa State University spent years developing the Strengthening Families Program, an approach to substance abuse prevention that is fully supported by research and has helped thousands of families across the country keep kids off drugs. Strengthening Families’ goals are:
- Preventing teen substance abuse and other behavior problems
- Strengthening parenting skills, and;
- Building family strengths.
Strengthening Families has been nationally recognized as an effective prevention tool by federal agencies including the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Here’s how the program works. Strengthening Families is delivered to up to thirteen families over the course of seven, two-hour evening sessions with parents and their children ages 10-14. During the first hour, parents and youth meet in separate groups to discuss topics. The families meet together during the second hour to practice skills, play games and do family projects. Sessions are interactive, using role-playing and in-depth discussions. At the end of the seven sessions, parents are more equipped to nurture, support, discipline and guide their growing children. Youth have a better understanding of and appreciation for their parents, have learned skills for coping with stress and peer pressure, and have developed a healthy future orientation.
