Strengthening Families Program

“It starts with gathering as a family for dinner”

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 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 program graduate. 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 14-session program graduate in a celebratory style.

What makes the SFP program work?

Coaching- FSS 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.

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 Amarillo’s residents and broaden diversity and inclusion efforts in the Panhandle.

Bring the Strengthening Families Program to your community or school site

Are you interested in bringing SFP to your location? Contact the SFP team at (806)-342-2536.

Offsite Services include:

•Trainings and workshops for parents at schools, churches and social service organizations at NO COST

•Attendance at meetings with schools and service providers as a support for parents, and caregivers

•A specialized lending library for parents and professionals as well as resource information to youth and their siblings

•Support groups for adults

Also related to the SFP is our HOPES program, which seeks to help stop child abuse before it happens.