The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth has awarded a three-year $150,000 grant to Bacon Street Youth and Family Services (commonly referred to as Bacon Street) to deliver “Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14” (SFP 10-14) to communities on the Peninsula and Middle Peninsula. The first session of SFP 10-14 begins this Thursday, October 14, at Botetourt Elementary School in Gloucester.

So what is “Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14?” The easy answer is, a free seven-week series of classes that teaches family communication. It was developed by Iowa State University, and a lot of research has gone into proving that it reduces conflict and prevents substance use. That’s right. Research has shown that youth attending SFP 10-14 with their families had significantly lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use.

“We know that prevention work has a positive impact on health outcomes. We see that firsthand with statewide high school smoking rates dropping from 15% to 5.5% since 2011. That is why it is so important for children to build and learn resilience as new public health threats emerge like vaping/electronic cigarette-use in middle and high schools,” said Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Executive Director Marty Kilgore.

The program is open to any family with a child or children ages 10-14; younger and older siblings are also welcome. Families are led through group exercises to identify challenges and build communication skills. Families then are divided into two groups: parents and youth. The two groups go to separate breakout rooms, where they work on skills as peers. The session ends with the groups coming back together to practice what they’ve learned.

“Parents want to protect their children, but it’s challenging. Youth need skills to help them be independent and resist the peer pressure that leads to risky behaviors like smoking or vaping,” said Allison Jarvis, Bacon Street’s Director of Prevention Programs. “By offering SFP 10-14 and teaching communication and conflict resolution at the family level, we can intervene at a pivotal time in kids’ lives.”

While the program is free of charge, registration is required. https://baconstreet.org/strengthening-families/