Strengthening Families

A fourteen-week long series of evidence-based parenting classes serving families with children ages 6 to 11 .

In February 2017, Lancaster County Partners for Youth began hosting Strengthening Families

Funding by South Carolina Children’s Trust, The Duke Endowment, and SC Department of Social Services.

The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a fourteen-week long evidence-based program that 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.

The weekly sessions, which begin with a family meal, last 2.5 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. Past graduations have been held at USC Lancaster and at the Lancaster Bowling Center, dependent on the wishes of each cycle. Beginning in 2025, the programmatic children’s age focus will change from 6–11 to 7–17.