The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a 14-week family life-skills training program, delivered in Arabic and English, for children (ages 6 to 17) and their parents. Parents and children work on communication skills, goal setting, behaviour management, strategies for dealing with peer pressure, substance use, and positive family relationships.
The program increases family resiliency and is known to reduce problem behaviours in children. It also improves social competencies and school performance.
Parents develop a greater understanding of their children’s behaviour, and they learn to set limits while showing love and affection.
The Muslim Resource Centre is committed to creating a culturally adaptive program customized for collectivist cultures, predominantly Muslim families in London, Ontario. Launched in 2021 with funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the program ran 6 cohorts, including 5 in-person groups and 1 cohort who completed the program individually (due to COVID), reaching 50 families, with over half being lone-parent.
Families were diverse with respect to family size and type, education level, countries of origin, and number of years in Canada. Most were from Syria and spoke Arabic. Managing this diversity required skilled facilitation so that all felt respected and welcomed.
By the numbers (since 2016):
- 82 families
- 129 parents (61% mothers, 39% fathers)
- 196 children
I noticed a huge change in myself and I have more confidence now how to talk to my kids and by applying my time, it had a major role in my understanding of my children’s behaviour and how to deal with them.
Parent Testimony
I learned how to properly interrupt a conversation, since this used to be something I got in trouble for before, especially when adults would be talking. The family meeting was a success at my house.
Teen Testimony