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Participants completing the program indicated an increase in family’s ability to solve disputes without violence.
Strengthening Families is a evidence-based family skills training program that is being offered through the Family Resource Center. Research indicates that this program has been 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 learn more effective parenting skills.
 The Strengthening Families curriculum embodies fourteen weeks of training that focuses on three areas: Parent Training, Children’s Skills Training, and Family Life Skills Training. Parents learn to increase desired behaviors in children through the utilization of attention and rewards, clear communication, and effective discipline. Children learn social skills, resisting peer pressure, and compliance with parental rules. Strengthening Families consists of two-hour sessions, with the first hour focusing on separate educational components for parents and children, and the second half devoted to structured family activities including therapeutic play and family meetings. Program success is augmented through an evening meal, and cost-free childcare
Strengthening Families was originally developed in the early 1980s at the University of Utah. The training has since undergone rigorous evaluation, with subsequent rating as an Exemplary Program and approval for replication with federal and state funds by numerous entities, including the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The Nurturing Parenting Program: Is a program offered in a series of 12 classes for parents of children ages 13 to 19. The Nurturing Parenting programs are family-based, utilized for the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. The goals of the curriculum are: 1) to teach age-appropriate expectations and neurological development of children; 2) to develop empathy and self worth in parents and children; 3) to utilize nurturing, non-violent strategies and techniques in establishing family discipline; 4) to empower parents and children to utilize their personal power to make healthy choices; and 5) to increase awareness of self and others in developing positive patterns of communication while establishing healthy, caring relationships. This program is rated as a Promising Practice with a High relevance to child welfare concerns.
The Family Resource Center has been successfully implementing versions of Nurturing Parenting since the 2001 fiscal year. Participants completing the program indicated an increase in positive parent-child interactions and also an increased sense of support in the parenting role.
If you have any questions about our current class schedule or ideas about introducing new classes we welcome your ideas or suggestions. Please feel free to contact me at 828-586-2845 ext.25 or clayton.amber@swcdcinc.org.
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Adventures in Reading is a 10 - week literacy program that encourages reading within the entire family. This program provides story time, a craft activity, and a book for each family. This program is offered in an effort to bring families together. Strategies used to promote attendance include meals, child-parent "fun" activities, cost-free childcare and incentives such as books and door prizes. 