# Evaluation of the Effects of the Strengthening Families Program in Quebec Adolescents and Parents Living in Challenging Family Conditions

## TL;DR

This study evaluated a 14-week Strengthening Families Program in Quebec to see if it improved family relationships and reduced risky behaviors in adolescents from challenging backgrounds.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the effectiveness of the SFP in a Canadian context using a longitudinal design.

## Key findings

- The SFP improved protective factors like parent-child relationships and family strengths.
- No significant effects were found on parenting practices or adolescents' social behavior.
- The study highlights challenges in evaluating the SFP's long-term impact.

## Abstract

The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) has recognized value in preventing criminality and drug use in adolescents from underprivileged backgrounds. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of a 14-week version of this program targeting adolescents 12–16 years old in two medium-sized Quebec municipalities, using a repeated-measure design. The study participants were: 1) an intervention group, consisting of 71 adolescents and 61 parents who participated in the SFP between January 2018 and December 2019; and 2) a comparison group, consisting of 57 adolescents and 56 parents. Multivariate longitudinal regression indicates that the SFP reinforces some protective factors, such as the parent-child relation, as well as some key dimensions of family strengths. However, no effect was observed on parenting practices or adolescents’ social behaviour. The differences between the intervention and control groups, the clinical significance of the results, and challenges of evaluating the SFP are discussed.