The PROSPER Partnership model implements evidence-based programming in schools and with families:

Strengthening Families Program | LifeSkills Training

Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14

This program is delivered within parent, youth, and family sessions. The sessions use narrated videos portraying typical youth and parent situations with diverse families. Parents and youth meet in separate groups for the first hour and together as families during the second hour to practice skills, play games, and do family projects. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects. SFP 10-14 is listed on the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices

SFP 10-14 is a skills-building curriculum designed to:

  • Prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems
  • Strengthen parenting skills
  • build family strengths

What are the benefits of SFP 10-14?

  • delaying the onset of adolescent substance use
  • lowering levels of aggression
  • increasing the resistance to peer pressure in youth
  • increasing the ability of parents/caregivers to set appropriate limits and show affection to and support of their children
  • reducing meth use
  • creating positive outcomes with school-related behavior problems
  • helping parents/caregivers learn nurturing skills that support their children
  • giving youth a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents/caregivers
  • teaching youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure

How does it work?

SFP 10-14 content is delivered for the first hour to parents and youth in separate groups. The groups typically come together for a family meal and then practice skills, play games, and do family projects during the second hour. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects. Four optional booster sessions can be held three to twelve months after the basic sessions. Special features include:

  • parents and youth learning together
  • sessions are designed and use examples with ethnically diverse families in rural and urban settings
  • scientific evaluation that has shown the program to be effective

The program is taught to a group of 8 to 13 families over a period of seven weeks, usually in the evenings. It is recommended that the group size be smaller when dealing with families where parents have begun to have concerns over the problematic behavior of their youth.

What training materials are required for high quality implementation?

Training helps ensure program fidelity, making it more likely that there will be positive outcomes for youth and parents. Groups of at least three facilitators per program site must receive training. One facilitator teaches the parent group, two facilitators teach the youth group, and all three facilitators work with families during the family session. Facilitators learn about the background, evaluation, goals, and content of the program and take part in session activities. Training also includes information on practical considerations for implementing SFP 10-14. Groups can host a 3-day training or individuals can join an already scheduled training. Training is required to purchase materials.

Manuals and video materials are required for the program. Many of the materials are one time purchases with the manual having masters for participant handouts. A sample budget is available online to help you with your planning.

How do I get more information?

 

 

LifeSkills Training (LST)

LifeSkills Training (LST) for Middle School students is a multi-year program designed to be used in the classroom. The first year is for sixth and seventh grade students and booster sessions are designed to be delivered the following year to reinforce the concepts. There are seventeen 45-minute sessions for Year 1, and thirteen booster sessions for year two. The program can be taught once a week or several times a week.  LifeSkills Training is listed on the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices

LST is designed to:

  • Personal Self-Management Skills—Provides students with skills for enhancing self-esteem, learning creative problem solving, reducing stress and anxiety, and managing anger.
  • General Social Skills—Empowers students with skills to meet personal challenges such as overcoming shyness, communicating clearly, building relationships, and avoiding violence.
  • Drug Resistance Skills— Enables students to build defenses against pressures to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

What are LST benefits?

The primary goal is to prevent youth from engaging in behaviors that will put their health and well-being at risk. The program strives to improve personal management skills, interpersonal skills, and social resistance skills. These skills increase the protective factors that result in delayed initiation of illegal substances, decreased use of substances, and decreased aggressive behaviors.

  • Cuts tobacco use by 87%
  • Cuts alcohol use by 75%
  • Decreases use of inhalants, narcotics, and hallucinogens
  • Reduces pack-a-day smoking by 25%
  • Cuts marijuana use by 75%
  • Cuts polydrug use by 66%
  • Reduces violence

How does LST work?

Program Structure: The program is taught as an intensive mini-series or on an extended schedule. It is designed for grades 6-9 with a three level program consisting of 30 class sessions with each class session lasting 30-45 minutes.

  • Level 1 (Grades 6/7): Core Level-15 class sessions including 3 optional violence lessons
  • Level 2 (Grades 7/8): Booster Level-10 class sessions including 2 optional violence lessons

Program Components: Each level includes the following materials:

  • Comprehensive, easy-to-use teacher's manuals
  • Student guides
  • Smoking & Biofeedback DVD
  • Stress Management Techniques CD

LifeSkills Provider Training workshops can be delivered on-site or through open training workshops sponsored by NHPA.

Materials for Core Program Level 1: Materials required include a teacher's manual, student guide, and a stress management techniques CD.

How do I get more information?