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Strong African American Families (SAAF)

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Strong African American Families (SAAF) is a family-based prevention program designed for low-income, rural African American preadolescents and their primary caregivers. The program seeks to help 11 and 12 year olds make positive choices as they enter adolescence. The curriculum is based on more than ten years of research on African American families conducted at the University of Georgia and Iowa State University. The program consists of seven consecutive weekly sessions. At the sessions, families eat a meal together and then divide into parent and child small groups for discussion. The small groups are followed by a group meeting. The focus of the sessions are on effective parenting behaviors, providing guidance and support for children, helping children appreciate their parents and teaching children skills to do deal with stress and peer pressure.

Goal / Mission

The SAAF program aims to prevent initiation of risk behaviors such as drug abuse, alcohol and cigarette use, and sexual activity in low-income African American preadolescents.

Impact

This program has helped create positive family interactions and support youth and teens as they take the next steps toward a positive future.

Results / Accomplishments

Multiple studies of the SAAF programs have been conducted. In one such study, which included 332 families, it was shown that families who participated in SAAF experienced significant increases over time in regulated, communicative parenting; increases in targeted parenting behaviors, according to youths' reports; and low rates of high-risk behavior initiation among youths.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
Primary Contact
Dr. Tracey Anderson
The Center for Family Research
University of Georgia
1095 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30602
(706)425-2992
tnander@uga.edu
https://cfr.uga.edu/saaf-programs/saaf/
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Community / Social Environment
Health / Family Planning
Organization(s)
Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
Source
Journal of Family Psychology
Date of publication
2006
Geographic Type
Rural
Location
Georgia
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569084
Target Audience
Children, Teens, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities

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Related Content for: Strong African American Families (SAAF)

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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