Roots and Wings
Strengthening Families Program
Being the parents of teenagers may be the toughest job around. Parenting teenagers requires a parent to walk a fine line between having boundaries and letting go. Parents worry about their teens making good choices and worry that they’re no longer the most influential force in their child’s life. Teens are facing a host of intense challenges and changes in their lives, and like to act as if they alone can deal with them. But the reality is that teens need (and secretly want) their parents help and guidance. In fact, teens appreciate their parents. They listen. They remember advice. Even when it seems like they’re not paying attention.
Teenagers can cause parents a lot of concern about the potential risks out there. The risks facing teenagers today are real. They’re also different for every teen, and they might even surprise you. Did you know that in a survey of almost 7,000 youth in Ingham County 52 percent have never tried alcohol? Although as youth get older the number of youth who have not drank alcohol decreases. 83 percent of 6th graders have not used alcohol while 26 percent of 12th graders have not.
The Roots and Wings Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10 and older helps shield adolescents from risky behavior problems. Youth sessions focus on strengthening pro-social goals for the future, dealing with stress and strong emotions, appreciating parents and other elders, increasing the desire to be responsible and building skills to deal with peer pressure. Parent sessions include discussions of parents' potential positive influence on young teens. These discussions focus on understanding the developmental characteristics of youth, providing nurturing support, dealing effectively with children in everyday interactions, setting appropriate limits and following through with reasonable and respectful consequences, and sharing beliefs and expectations regarding alcohol and drug use.
During family sessions, parents and youth practice listening and communicating with respect, identify family strengths and family values, learn how to use family meetings to teach responsibility and solve problems, and learn how to plan enjoyable family activities.
The program is free. Classes are ongoing throughout the year. They meet from 5:30 to 8:00 on Tuesday evenings for seven weeks. We begin with a family meal in the cafeteria. Then parents and teens meet in separate groups for the first hour and together as families during the second hour to practice skills.
Parent Sessions
Parent sessions consists of presentations, group discussions, and other skill-building activities. Topics include:
- Using Love and Limits
- Making House Rules
- Encouraging Good Behavior
- Using Consequences
- Building Bridges
- Protecting Against Substance Abuse
- Getting Help for Special Family Needs
Youth Sessions
Youth sessions engage each youth in small and large group discussions, group skill practice, and social bonding activities. Topics include:
- Having Goals and Dreams
- Appreciating Parents
- Dealing with Stress
- Following Rules
- Handling Peer Pressure I
- Handling Peer Pressure II
- Reaching Out To Others
Family Sessions
Family sessions use specially designed games and projects to increase family bonding, build positive communication skills, and facilitate learning to solve problems together. Topics include:
- Supporting Goals and Dreams
- Appreciating Family Members
- Using Family Meetings
- Understanding Family Values
- Building Family Communication
- Reaching Our Goals
- Putting It All Together and Graduation
The Strengthening Families curriculum has been evaluated for effectiveness and is recognized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Education. Extensive research and analysis of data has shown positive results for both parents and their children.
Youth had significantly lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use compared to youth who were not in the program. At the 8th grade students exhibited a 49% relative reduction in alcohol use and at 10th grade, a 32% relative reduction in alcohol use compared to control group students
At the 8th grade, students exhibited a 59% relative reduction in drunkenness and at 10th grade, a 37% relative reduction in drunkenness compared to control group students.
Students who participated in SFP: 10-14 while in 6th grade were approximately half as likely as students in the control group to smoke cigarettes at follow-up evaluations two years and four years later.
Students who participated in SFP: 10-14 while in 6th grade were 58% less likely than students in the control group to report aggressive behavior at follow-up evaluations two and four years later.
(Aggressive-destructive Conduct Index is based on an in-home questionnaire derived from the national Youth Survey and measures the frequency with which youth engaged in identified behaviors including physically aggressive behavior toward people)
Youth had significantly fewer conduct problems in school.
Parents improved their positive relationship with their youth, setting appropriate limits, and following through on consequences.
In addition, research has shown that these positive influences continue with youth years after they have completed the program.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Frederick Douglas
