U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Strengthening America's Families:
Exemplary Parenting and Family Strategies
For Delinquency Prevention

by
Karol L. Kumpfer, Ph.D.,
University of Utah
(April, 1999)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW

PART I: FAMILY INFLUENCE ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Introduction
Juvenile Crime Statistics
Developmental Pathways To Delinquency
    Family Risk Factors
        Family History
        Family Management Problems
        Family Conflicts
        Family Poverty
    Family Dynamics and Violence
        Cycle of Violence
        Exposure to Violence in the Home
        Child Abuse & Domestic Violence
        Victimization from Neglect, Physical Abuse, and Sexual Abuse
    Family Protective and Resilience Factors

PART II: REVIEW OF FAMILY STRENGTHENING APPROACHES
Definition Of Family
    Family Strengthening
Family Prevention Approaches
    Family Skills Training Program
    Family Education Programs
    Family Therapy
    Family Services
    Family Preservation Programs
    Surrogate Family Approaches
Parenting Approaches
    Behavioral Parent Training Programs
    Parent Education Programs
    Parent Support Groups
    Parent Aid or In-home Parent Education
    Parent Involvement in Youth Groups
    Adlerian Parenting Programs
Prevention Is Cost-Effective

PART III: PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE FAMILY PROGRAMS
Comprehensive Interventions
Family-Focused
Long-Term And Enduring
Sufficient Dosage Or Intensity
Culturally Sensitive
Developmentally-Appropriate
Change Ongoing Family Dynamics
Early Start
Family Relations, Communication, And Parental Monitoring
Recruitment And Retention
Videotaping Of Effective Parenting Skills
Trainer'S Personal Efficacy

PART IV: OJJDP FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROJECT
History
National Search For Model Programs
Program Matrix
Universal Prevention Interventions
Selective Prevention Interventions
Indicated Prevention Interventions
Exemplary Program Descriptions
    Functional Family Therapy (6-18 Years, Family Therapy)
    Helping The Noncompliant Child (3-7 Years; Parent Training)
    Iowa Strengthening Families Program With Pre & Early Teens (10-14; Family Skills)
    Multi-Systemic Family Therapy Program (10-18 Years; Comprehensive)
    Parents, Teachers, And Children's Series (3-8 Years; Comprehensive)
    Prenatal & Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation (0-5; Family In-Home Support)
    Preparing For The Drug-Free Years (8-14 Years; Parent Training)
    Raising A Thinking Child: I Can Problem Solve Program For Families (4-7; Parent Training)
    Strengthening Families Program (6-10 Years; Family Skills Training)
    Structural Family Therapy (0-18 Years; Family Therapy)
    Treatment Foster Care (12-18 Years; Parent Training)

REFERENCES