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Families4Change Inc. P.O. Box 248 Athens, GA 30603-0248 Phone (706) 369-9707 Families4Change@hotmail.com |
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Fall 2006Scroll down or choose an article from our Fall 2006 newsletter: Family Solutions Curbs Recidivism in New Site Family Solutions Takes Off in South Carolina! Richland 2 South Carolina Schools Adopt FSP FSP Staff Grows and Changes! THANK YOU! How Can I Become Involved with the Family Solutions Program?
Family Solutions Curbs Recidivism in New Site A recent analysis of recidivism continues to demonstrate that FSP is more effective in curbing recidivism for FSP graduates than for those youth and families who refuse to participate or drop out. Among 1052 juvenile first offenders, FSP graduates repeat offended at a 25% rate, while youth who did not attend or complete the program (more than one absence disqualifies a youth and family from graduating from FSP) re-offended at a 44% rate. This is a significant difference according to a chi square analysis: (X²(1) = 36.54; p=00). In conducting a binary logistic regression, when controlling for age, race and sex of the child, the odds of a non-graduate re-offending are 2.5 times as likely as a re-offense of an FSP graduate. Among the entire sample, African- American males and younger children are also more likely to re-offend. This finding suggests the importance of early intervention for high risk youth. In another recent study, Dr. Chris Caldwell found that among 118 parents, those that attended and completed the FSP indicated significantly lower levels of parental stress at 3 month follow-up (post FSP graduation) than parents who did not attend or complete the program successfully (published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies). Research documents the strong association between parent stress and ineffective and harsh discipline practices. Finally, Dr. Jennifer Stoddard found in a replication study among 94 families in Augusta, Georgia that youth who attended a greater number of sessions of the FSP with their families, whether they graduated or not, had a lower recidivism rate.
Family Solutions Takes Off in South Carolina! South Carolina DJJ Adopts the Family Solutions Program The Department of Juvenile Justice for the State of South Carolina has adopted the Family Solutions Program to expand its emphasis on early intervention and incorporate the role of the family in serving youth at risk. With the leadership of Judge Bill Byars and DJJ colleagues, 26 DJJ staff from around the state participated in FSP training led by Dr. William Quinn, Executive Director of Families4Change, Inc., and Alice Huff, LMSW and FSP Supervisor, in June in Columbia, South Carolina. Three new FSP groups are currently being implemented by FSP trained group leaders in Greenville, Columbia, and Florence, with plans to expand to other South Carolina communities in the coming year. Richland 2 South Carolina Schools Adopt FSP The Richland 2 County Schools in Columbia, South Carolina are implementing the FSP in 8 middle and high schools and one alternative school. On July 13 and 14, 25 professionals including school staff, family therapists, and psychologists, were trained by William Quinn and Alice Huff to implement FSP with families beginning in the 2006-07 school year. Under the leadership of Dr. Karen Cooper-Haber of the Richland 2 County Schools, the FSP will serve truant students and youth with school behavior problems. The model is described in detail, group leader skills for successful outcomes are delineated, and to bolster its validity, outcome data are presented to provide justification for the benefits of the intervention. Finally, practitioners are presented with core principles that are key to a successful collaboration with schools, agencies, and juvenile courts.
State Farm presented Family Solutions with funding to aid in serving more youth. Pictured (from left to right) are State Farm Agents Paul Lavelle, Gary Garrett, FSP Executive Director Bill Quinn, FSP Supervisor Alice Huff, and State Farm AFE Charlie Worley.
United Way of Northeast Georgia
How Can I Become Involved with the Family Solutions Program? 1. Schedule a training. FSP staff can come to your site to train a group of professionals to lead FSP groups.2. Train to be a Group Leader. A professional can be trained to lead or co-lead FSP groups.3. Volunteer to help group leaders. Assisting a group leader is a rewarding experience and a great way to learn more about our organization.4. Use FSP as a referral source for your organization in serving youth and families. FSP can work with your organization to provide services to youth and families in your area. For more information on how you get involved, please contact us. Phone: 706-542-4922 ● Fax: 706-542-4843 ● E-mail: families4change@hotmail.com |
Alice Huff,
who has previously worked with the FSP as 
The United Way
of Northeast Georgia showed their continued support for the Family
Solutions Program when President/CPO Rubielen Norris, second from
left, presented Alice Huff, left, with program funding for 2006 at
an FSP groupmeeting. Also pictured, front row from left, are FSP
facilitators, Cheryl Spaulding, Heather Huff, and, back row,Gretchen
Hunter.