““Strengthening Strengthening FamiliesFamilies

Interagency Effective Interagency Effective Practice Approach”.Practice Approach”.

Irish Youth Justice Irish Youth Justice Service Conference.Service Conference.

77thth March 2007 March 2007

Strengthening Families Strengthening Families Programme Programme

Developed by Dr. Karol Kumpfer - Developed by Dr. Karol Kumpfer - Professor of Health Promotion and Professor of Health Promotion and Education, University of UtahEducation, University of Utah

Started in 1982 for a range of age Started in 1982 for a range of age groups up to 18 years.groups up to 18 years.

Emphasises the critical role of families Emphasises the critical role of families in prevention and reducing risk.in prevention and reducing risk.

Evidenced Based Programme – Proven Evidenced Based Programme – Proven success where drug use is problematic. success where drug use is problematic.

SFP: Important PointsSFP: Important Points SFP is three SFP is three skillsskills courses: courses:

Parenting, Teen’s, & Family Skills.Parenting, Teen’s, & Family Skills.

SFP skills are for SFP skills are for allall families; they are families; they are notnot special skills for crisis families.special skills for crisis families.

SFP does make learning “Life Skills”SFP does make learning “Life Skills”easier for high stress families.easier for high stress families.

SFP “family” is one or more adultsSFP “family” is one or more adults responsible for one or more children; a responsible for one or more children; a

“parent” is an adult with that “parent” is an adult with that responsibilityresponsibility

Strengthening Families Strengthening Families Programme (SFP) 12-16Programme (SFP) 12-16

SFP: 3 Life Skills CoursesSFP: 3 Life Skills Courses: : Parents, Teen’s & Family Parents, Teen’s & Family

SkillsSkills All three are taught together, All three are taught together,

typically over 14 weekstypically over 14 weeks Courses can be “unbundled” but Courses can be “unbundled” but

are most effective when taught are most effective when taught togethertogether

SFP Typical Class SessionSFP Typical Class Session

FAMILY STYLEFAMILY STYLEMEALMEAL

1 Hour Simultaneously+

1 Hour

TEENGROUP

PARENTGROUP

FAMILY GROUP

or GROUPS

A Typical Weekly SessionA Typical Weekly Session

Dinner: Dinner: families sit together, with families sit together, with other families & Group Leadersother families & Group Leaders

1st Class Hour1st Class Hour: Parents’ Group and : Parents’ Group and Teen’s GroupTeen’s Group

2nd Class Hour2nd Class Hour: families rejoin & : families rejoin & divide into two Family Groupsdivide into two Family Groups

Baby-sittinBaby-sitting g & activities& activities for for younger children under 12. Awards younger children under 12. Awards for participants.for participants.

StaffingStaffing Top Qualifications for LeadersTop Qualifications for Leaders: :

sincere desire to help families learn SFsincere desire to help families learn SF personal skills: one-to-one & grouppersonal skills: one-to-one & group understanding why and how SFP worksunderstanding why and how SFP works

4 Group Leaders4 Group Leaders: 2 for Parent Group, : 2 for Parent Group, 2 for Teen’s Group 2 for Teen’s Group

Group Leaders: Group Leaders: May be mix salaried and hourlyMay be mix salaried and hourly contracted staff contracted staff

balancing teams to include men & women, balancing teams to include men & women, ethnicities. In Ireland, progressing in an ethnicities. In Ireland, progressing in an interagency approach and this is a new element interagency approach and this is a new element in the development of this programme.in the development of this programme.

Strengthening Families Strengthening Families overview to date in Irelandoverview to date in Ireland

Interagency ApproachInteragency Approach – Community, – Community, Voluntary & Statutory involvement.Voluntary & Statutory involvement.

Success in the Irish ContextSuccess in the Irish Context - pilot in Cork - pilot in Cork in 2007…projects and training developing in 2007…projects and training developing nationwide.nationwide.

A new method of practice for workers.A new method of practice for workers.

Broad Scope of ProgrammeBroad Scope of Programme – proven – proven effective in diverse settings urban/rural, effective in diverse settings urban/rural, minority groups.minority groups.

Referral AgenciesReferral Agencies

Community, Voluntary or Statutory Community, Voluntary or Statutory agencies working with young people, agencies working with young people, parents or familiesparents or families

Open to interagency work or capacity to Open to interagency work or capacity to run the programme independentlyrun the programme independently

Commitment by referring agent to Commitment by referring agent to support referred families for the support referred families for the duration of the Programme.duration of the Programme.

Programme FacilitatorsProgramme Facilitators

Staff or volunteers who work with Staff or volunteers who work with young people, parents or families young people, parents or families

Matching of the goals of SFP to work Matching of the goals of SFP to work remitremit

Organisational commitment to staff Organisational commitment to staff availability for the duration of the availability for the duration of the programme programme

Reflections.Reflections.

What are the benefits of maintaining What are the benefits of maintaining an inter agency ethos in the an inter agency ethos in the development of this Programme. development of this Programme. What are the benefits of this approach What are the benefits of this approach towards “best practice”.towards “best practice”.

Is the current development of this Is the current development of this programme in Ireland encompassing programme in Ireland encompassing the vision of the Children’s Act.the vision of the Children’s Act.

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers