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

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.