Strengthening Families Program

The Strengthening Families Program builds communications and bonding skills between parents and their elementary school-age children

It starts with gathering as a family for dinner

The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) serves families with children ages 6 to 11 through local partners in settings that include community centers, schools, and churches. SFP is designed to help families develop positive discipline practices, stay resilient in tough times, reduce conflict, improve parenting skills, and assist children with social skills, relationships, and school performance. All of these factors play an important role in keeping families strong while protecting against potential abuse or neglect and adverse childhood experiences.

Participants complete a 14-session weekly program. The sessions, which always begin with a family meal, typically last 2½ hours and include parents and children meeting separately to work with group leaders before coming together for shared activities to finish. Participants who successfully complete the program graduate in a celebratory style.

Reaching those who need it the most

28

funded organizations

1,464

children impacted

35

of 46 counties served

What makes the program work

Coaching

Children’s Trust provides one-on-one support and technical assistance for our local partners.

Two generation strategy

Children ages 6-11 and their parents work on parallel activities, designed to improve family relationships and break generational cycles of dysfunction.

Evidence-based program

Children's Trust implements this proven program and exceeds the national standards of model developer Ahearn-Green Association.

Strengthening Families Program graduation family embracing

En Espanol

The program helps Hispanic/Latino families to assimilate the American culture through bilingual sites and sessions.

By reaching Spanish-speaking families in underserved populations, SFP can make a greater impact for all of South Carolina’s residents and broaden diversity and inclusion efforts in South Carolina.

What they're saying

“I learned a lot about structure and how to implement that into our lives. I knew that we had some challenges around the way I disciplined. I’d yell a lot. Apparently, that wasn’t getting my point across so I’ve learned to pull back, take a breath, maybe not yell as much, and be more clear in my directions.”

RENEE CHAPMAN
SFP graduate and mother to two sons

Public-private partnership at work for South Carolina's children

Our funding partners have fueled its rapid expansion. We started in 2014 in four counties. Today, there are 28 providers now running the program in 36 counties.