The Strengthening Families Program is a nationally and internationally recognized parenting and family strengthening program for high-risk families. Strengthening Families Program is an evidence-based family skills training program found to significantly reduce problem behaviors, delinquency, and alcohol and drug abuse in children and to improve social competencies and school performance. Child maltreatment also decreases as parents strengthen bonds with their children and learn more effective parenting skills.

Strengthening Families Program was developed and found effective on a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) research grant in the early 1980s. More than 15 subsequent independent replications have found similar positive results with families in many different ethnic groups. Both culturally adapted versions and the core version of Strengthening Families Program have been found effective with African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and First Nations families.

The original Strengthening Families Program for high-risk families with children ages 6 to 11 years was joined in the early 1990’s by a shorter 7-session version for low-risk families with pre- and early teens. The 6-11 year age group has now been joined by 14-session versions for high-risk families with both younger children and early teens.

Fall 2008 Program

• Younger version (6-11 years old) will be held at Wallace Elementary in Kelso from October to February 2009

Winter 2009 Programs

• Older version (10-14 years old) will be held in Toutle Lake
• Older version will be held in Woodland
• Younger version will also be held in Castle Rock Elementary in January through April 2009

Spring 2009 Programs

• Older version will be help in Longview
• Older version will be held in Kalama

For more information, please contact:

Brian McCrady
Coordinator—Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition
Cowlitz Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator
Safe Schools Healthy Students
207 4th Ave North
Kelso, WA 98626
P: 360.577.3041
F: 360.425.7760