Kumpfer, K. L., Alvarado, R., Tait, C., & Turner, C. (2002). Effectiveness of school-based family and children's skills training for substance abuse prevention among 6-8 year old rural children. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 16(4), 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-64X.16.4S.S65

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 655

Population:

• Age — Not specified
• Race/Ethnicity — Children: 87% Caucasian and 8% Hispanic
• Gender — Children: 47% Male
• Status — Participants were 1st grade children and their families.

Location/Institution: 12 schools from the Rocky Mountain School District

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to test the effectiveness of Project SAFE (Strengthening America’s Families and Environment) [now called, Strengthening Families Program (SFP)]. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) program alone; 2) ICPS combined with the Strengthening Families (SF) program; 3) ICPS combined with SF parent training only; and 4) a no-treatment control group. Measures utilized include the Attitude Toward School and Teacher scales of the Behavioral Assessment for Children (BASC), the Parent Report on School Climate (PRSC), the Parent and Teacher Involvement Questionnaire (PTIQ), the Parenting Practices Scale (PPS), the Family Relations Scale, Parent Observation of Classroom Adaptation—Revised (POCA–R), and the Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation—Revised (TOCA–R). Results indicate that significantly larger improvements and effect sizes on all outcome variables (school bonding, parenting skills, family relationships, social competency, and behavioral self-regulation) for the combined ICPS and SF compared with ICPS-only or no-treatment controls. Adding parenting-only improved social competency and self-regulations more but negatively impacted family relationships, whereas adding SF improved family relationships, parenting, and school bonding more. Limitations include the article reports outcomes of conjoined intervention and not outcomes of each intervention separately, and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Gottfredson, D., Kumpfer, K. L., Polizzi-Fox, D., Wilson, D., Puryear, V, Beatty, P., & Vilmenay, M. (2006). Strengthening Washington, D.C. Families Project: A randomized effectiveness trial of family-based prevention. Prevention Science, 7(1), 57–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-005-0017-y

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 715

Population:

• Age — Children: 7–11 years, Parents: Not specified
• Race/Ethnicity — Children: Not specified; Parents: 75% African American
• Gender — Children: Not specified, Parents: 94% Female
• Status — Participants were families with children at risk for conduct problems or substance use.

Location/Institution: Washington, D.C.

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) on outcomes among children of primarily African American families in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the four study conditions: family skills (FT, full SFP treatment), parenting skills (PT, parent-training part of SFP only), children receiving training primarily in social skills (CT, child skills training part of SFP only), or minimal treatment (MT) control group. Measures utilized include the Parent Observation of Children’s Activities (POCA-R), the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), What About You Survey, and the Moos Family Environment Scale (FES). Results indicate that no statistically significant positive effects for any of the program conditions were observed, and a statistically significant negative effect on child reports of Negative Peer Associations was observed for children of families assigned to the family skills training condition. Two marginally significant findings were observed: Child’s positive adjustment favored families assigned to family skills training condition relative to minimal treatment and child training only, and family supervision and bonding was lower for children in family skills training than in the other three conditions. Limitations include high attrition rate, lack of generalizability to other populations based upon ethnicity of participants, and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Kumpfer, K. L., Xie, J., & O'Driscoll, R. (2012). Effectiveness of a culturally adapted Strengthening Families Program 12–16 years for high-risk Irish families. Child & Youth Care Forum, 41(2), 173–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-011-9168-0

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 250

Population:

• Age — Children: 12–16 years; Parents: Mean=40.5–40.6 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Children: Not specified; Parents: 95% Irish/White, 3% Irish Traveler, 1% African/Black, and 1% Other
• Gender — Children: 57% Male and 43% Female; Parents: 83% Female and 17% Male
• Status — Participants were families with children at risk for conduct problems or substance use.

Location/Institution: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Galway, Roscommon Sligo, Mayo, Donegal, Kildare, Meath, and Westmeath in Ireland

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) on Irish families compared to families in the United States that received SFP. Participants were placed into two groups that both received SFP. Measures utilized include the SFP Retrospective Parent Pre- and Post- test Questionnaire, the Family Strengths and Resilience Assessment, the Parent Observations of Child Activities (POCA), Gresham and Elliott Social Skills Scale, and the Family Environment Scale (FES). Results indicate that there were significant improvements in both SFP groups between pretest and posttest on all of the outcomes measured. The primary limitation is that the study compared two groups receiving the same intervention; other limitations include lack of randomization, and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Magalhães, C., & Kumpfer, K. L. (2015). Effectiveness of the culturally adapted Strengthening Families Program 6-11 Years among Portuguese Families. Journal of Children's Services, 10(2), 151–160. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-02-2014-0010

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 1,641

Population:

• Age — Children: 6–11 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were families with children at risk for conduct problems or substance use.

Location/Institution: Not Specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to test the effectiveness of cultural-adapted Strengthening Families Program (SFP) – Portuguese version compared to 11 years of SFP international norms. The outcomes for the SFP in Portuguese families with children 6 to 11 years old were compared to the international norms for SFP in families with children 6 to 11 years. Participants were placed into two groups that both received SFP. Measures utilized include the SFP Retrospective Parent Pre- and Post- test Questionnaire, and the Kellem Parent Observations of Child’s Activities. Results indicate that there were significant improvements in both SFP groups between pretest and posttest on family environment and parental and children outcomes for both groups. Limitations include the study compared two groups receiving the same intervention, lack of randomization, and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

The following studies were not included in rating Strengthening Families Program (SFP) on the Scientific Rating Scale...

Brook, J., McDonald, T. P., & Yan, Y. (2012). An analysis of the impact of the Strengthening Families Program on family reunification in child welfare. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(4), 691–695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.12.018

The purpose of the study was to examine the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) in regard to reunification outcomes of children of alcohol- or other drug-involved parents who were placed in foster care as part of their child welfare service intervention. Participants were 214 SFP participants and 423 matched nonparticipants. The propensity score matching was conducted within CWS region of the state. Results indicate that SFP participants had a significantly higher reunification rate than matched families who did not receive the intervention. Additionally, SFP participants were significantly more likely to reunify than comparison cases. Limitations include nonrandomization of participants, lack of reliability of self-reported measures, and possible selection bias. Note: This study was not used for rating the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) in any of the 3 topic areas since it evaluated reunification as the outcome, not problem behaviors or prevention of substance abuse.

Johnson-Motoyama, M., Brook, J., Yan, Y., & McDonald, T. P. (2013). Cost analysis of the Strengthening Families Program in reducing time to family reunification among substance-affected families. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(2), 244–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.11.008

The study used the same sample as Brook et al. (2012). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the costs and effects of a federally funded implementation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) on time to reunification with a substance-involved child welfare population. Participants were 214 SFP participants and 423 matched nonparticipants. The propensity score matching was conducted within CWS region of the state. Results indicate that the typical child participating in SFP spends 190 fewer days in out-of-home care when compared to a propensity score matched comparison group of children in out-of-home care receiving treatment as usual. Re-entry rates between the two groups were not significantly different at follow-up. At an average out-of-home care rate of $86 per child per day in this state, SFP saves approximately $16,340 per participating child in out-of-home care costs. From a cost–benefit perspective, every $1 invested in SFP yields an average savings of $9.83 in this Midwestern demonstration. Limitations include nonrandomization of participants, lack of reliability of self-reported measures, and possible selection bias. Note: This study was not used for rating the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) in any of the 3 topic areas since it evaluated reunification as the outcome, not problem behaviors or prevention of substance abuse.