Strengthening Families Program/Strengthening Hawaii Families

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Strengthening Hawaii Families is an evidence-based intervention that provides life-skills training for elementary-age children and their families. The 14-week program is designed to demonstrate the link between substance abuse and family functioning, specifically addressing the needs of Pacific Island and Asian families. Each session begins with the parents and children engaging in a fun, learning activity together. The children and parents then meet in separate groups for skills training. Each session concludes with the children and parents sharing what they learned.

The culturally-tailored version of the program (which is only 10 sessions long) was not as effective. This is possibly because the shift from a behavioral to values-based program decreased emphasis on behavior change.

Goal / Mission

The program aims to reduce substance abuse risk factors and improve relationships in high-risk families.

Results / Accomplishments

Preliminary analyses have demonstrated significant reductions in family conflict; significant improvements in family cohesion and family organization; and significant improvement in family communication.

In a study conducted in the United States and Canada, families with a parent who had problems with alcohol in the past 5 years were exposed to SFP or a control condition. Children who received SFP had lower scores on conduct disorder symptoms (p < .01), oppositional defiance symptoms (p < .05), and behavior problems (p < .05) than children in the control group. Families who participated in SFP reported improvements in overt aggression, covert aggression, concentration problems, criminal behavior, social skills, alcohol and drug use, and depression (all p values < .01).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii
Primary Contact
Cheryl Kameoka
Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii
1130 North Nimitz Highway, A259
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 545-3228
ckameoka@drugfreehawaii.org
https://strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/contact.h...
Topics
Community / Social Environment
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
Date of publication
2007
Location
Hawaii
For more details
https://strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/sp-hawai....
https://www.vfhy.org/sites/default/files/pdf/SFP_6...
Target Audience
Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities

Related Promising Practices

  1. Brief Strategic Family Therapy
  2. Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)
  3. Parenting Wisely
  4. Positive Family Support Program (PFS)
  5. Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14
  6. Communities That Care

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Related Content for: Strengthening Families Program/Strengthening Hawaii Families

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.