SWEA CITY – Kossuth County Extension has successfully completed the Strengthening Families Program For Parents and Youth 10-14 and has set the seven-week 2015 program to begin from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Swea City Middle School.

Iowa State University Extension recently celebrated the success of SFP 10-14 at the First Presbyterian Church with awards and incentives for the families involved.

This is the first year the SFP 10-14 program has run in the Algona area.

ISU Extension partnered with Algona Middle School and Bishop Garrigan Middle School.

SFP 10-14 was an evidence-based parent, youth, and family skills-building curriculum.

The curriculum prevents teen substance abuse and other risky behavior problems, including violent and aggressive behavior at home and at school.

It also strengthens parent and youth communication skills and increases academic success in youth.

One parent who participated in SFP 10-14 commented, “The most valuable things that I have learned has been a different system of rewards/consequences than I had been using. Also trying to understand my youths’ point of view and taking the time to listen when they are upset has really helped.”

Another parent stated, “After just one session, I knew I had to keep coming back. The program was valuable for our family; it will not only help my relationship with my middle school youth now, but will have a trickle-down effect to my younger children as they get older too.”

Throughout the seven weeks of SFP 10-14, families covered a variety of skills for strengthening their relationships, including how to address challenges and celebrate successes.

Parents learned and practiced how to show love while setting guidelines for their children; children learned to understand that parents have a lot of responsibilities to manage.

Youth also learned how to set goals, and parents rehearsed how to supportive of their children’s goals.

Thanks to the support of the Kossuth Community Foundation, grants, Kossuth County Extension and other community supporters, SFP 10-14 is a free program available to any family.

For more information or to register contact Faye Schluter at the Kossuth County Extension office at (515) 295-2469.