WHAT IT IS: Strengthening Families is a
14-week family-focused skills building program provided to families with youth between the ages of 6 and
16.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This program is designed
to provide separate skill building sessions for parents and youth and to provide family time to practice the
skills learned during those sessions.
WHO MAY RECEIVE THIS SERVICE: Any family unit,
defined as at least one parent/guardian and at least one youth between the ages of 6 and 16, may participate
in this program. Referrals are accepted from community agencies, local medical providers, school social workers,
and during outreach events. Parents can also self-refer to participate.
For more information, please click on the referral form located at the bottom of this page. You may also
contact Michelle Wilson at 704-920-1356 with additional questions. Currently, we are only able to offer the program
in English but we are working to develop a group for Spanish speaking families.
HOW THIS PROGRAM IS CARRIED OUT: This program is
FREE
to all participating families. Participants receive FREE program materials, assistance with transportation, child
care for youth not between the ages of 6 and 16, family incentives during the program, and a family incentive upon
graduation. The program is offered weekly in the evenings, usually from 5:30pm until 8:00pm, at a location central
to the participants. Dinner is provided to families from 5:30pm until 6:00pm and then parents and youth break off
into separate training sessions for an hour. Families are then reunited during the last hour to practice the skills
learned.
HOW THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS: Strengthening Families improves
family functioning by reinforcing the parent-child bond and provides parents and youth with additional tools to improve
communication and boundary setting. This evidence-based program has shown lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana
use among youth. It has also shown improvement in peer resistance skills and academic achievement.
