This program is for youth who are 11 to 16 years old and their parents.

Active Parenting of Teens: Families in Action, a community-based program, is designed to improve parent-child relationships and prevent youth substance use and other risky behaviors.

Quasi-experimental studies have been conducted on an earlier version of the program, which was placed as Promising; however, no peer-reviewed evaluations of the current version were located.

The Active Parenting of Teens: Families in Action program intends to prevent or delay drug use, sexual activity, and violence; strengthen family relationships; and build communication and conflict resolution skills. There are parent- and teen-specific guides.

The Parent's Guide examines the following:

• Styles of parenting;
• Cooperation, communication, and encouragement;
• Responsibility, discipline, and problem-solving;
• Building courage and redirecting misbehavior; and
• Drugs, sexuality, and violence.

The Teen's Guide examines the following:

• Challenges of teen life, such as drug and alcohol use, sexuality, bullying, and violence; the power of choice; and school success;
• Communication skills;
• Responsibility, freedom, disipline, and consequences;
• Self-esteem and power struggles;
• Risk prevention strategies, negative and positive influences, and sexuality; and
• Peer pressure and high-risk behaviors.

This program is available for parents and teens, for teens only, or for parents only.  Program delivery is designed to be flexible and includes group sessions, home visitation, or a media-based delivery via television or internet.

Over 100,000 parents and teens have participated in the program at about 1,500 sites. The program has been used in the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Cayman Islands (United Kingdom), Kuwait, St. Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), and Singapore.

This program is facilitated by two co-leaders (i.e., one for parent sessions and one for teen sessions) who have a background in mental health, education, or youth work. Training is not required but is recommended.  Training options include live webinars, online classes, in-person workshops, training of trainers, and custom training. Please visit https://activeparenting.com/for-leaders/research-studies-tools-and-tests/leader-training/ for more information.

Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting and gaining buy-in from participants, obtaining facilitators who have a suitable background, offering facilitators the option to complete training, understanding this program can be adapted and different delivery methods can be used, securing fidelity in diverse delivery formats, finding locations to hold sessions, and offering child care for younger siblings during parent sessions.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing Active Parenting of Teens: Families in Action, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

This program is delivered as 6-weekly, 2.5-hour sessions.

The Jump Start Package costs $948, and the Standard Kit costs $599. For additional information, please visit https://activeparenting.com/product/active-parenting-of-teens-families-in-action-program-kit/

To move Active Parenting of Teens: Families in Action to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation of the most recent version should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Active Parenting USA Headquarters by mail 1290 Kennestone Circle, Suite D-101, Marietta, GA 30066-6022, phone 1-800-825-0060, email cservice@activeparenting.com, or visit https://activeparenting.com/

https://activeparenting.com/product/active-parenting-of-teens-families-in-action/ and https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/active-parenting-of-teens-families-in-action/detailed

Abbey, A., Pilgrim, C., Hendrickson, P., & Buresh, S. (2000). Evaluation of a family-based substance abuse prevention program targeted for the middle school years. Journal of Drug Education, 30(2), 213-228. https://doi.org/10.2190/GT8C-ELWH-HY94-ECG9

Mullis, F. (1999). Active parenting: An evaluation of two Adlerian parent education programs. Individual Psychology, 55(2), 225.

Pilgrim, C., Abbey, A., Hendrickson, P., & Lorenz, S. (1998). Implementation and impact of a family-based substance abuse prevention program in rural communities. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 18(3), 341-361. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024659012360