UNL For Families

1. UNL For Families Presented to the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Conference May, 2006

2. Program Goal • Develop accessible research-based resources that can be used to meet local-level needs of youth and families.

3. Family Strengths • Based on research conducted by John DeFrain, Nick Stinnett and others. • American Families Survey is validated through research with more than 24,000 families is 27 countries.

4. Family Strengths Perspective • Families are the basic foundation of human culture. • All families have strengths. • It’s not about structure, it’s about function. • Strong marriages are the center of many strong families. • If you grew up in a strong family, it will probably be easier for you to create a strong family.

5. Family Strengths Perspective (cont.) • The relationship between money and family strength is shaky. • Strengths develop over time. • Strong families don’t think about it, they just live them. • Strengths develop in response to challenges. • Strong families are not perfect. • Strong families are where humans feel safe, comfortable, happy and loved.

6. Family Strengths • Appreciation and Affection • Time Together • Commitment • Positive Communication • Ability to Cope with Stress and Crisis • Spiritual Well-Being

7. Process • Interested communities formed local UNL For Families Planning Teams • Teams identified needs and developed a plan for implementing Family Strengths Model • Teams selected programs to best meet their needs • On-going communication among Teams

8. Family Resource Centers Community Action Teams Juvenile Diversion Programs Schools Governmental Agencies Youth Serving Organizations Churches Libraries Businesses Partnerships

9. Program Examples • Eat with your Family Promotion • UNL For Families Tool Box • Family Nights • Learn-at-Home Modules • Workshops • Web-Based Activities

10. Program Examples • Tips to Improve Parenting Skills • Video and Audio Tapes on Strengths • Fact Sheets • Web based learning: www.unlforfamilies.unl.edu

11. Program Examples • Family Strengths Satellite Training - DVD • Family Treasures: Creating Strong Families

12. Marketing • News Releases • Television Spots • Radio Program • Powerpoint Presentations • Educational Programs • Electronic Messages

13. Making a Difference • 42 UNL For Families Planning Teams are working statewide • Over 1/3 of Nebraska (560,000) were reached with research-based information on families

14. Making a Difference • 93% of those participating in Family Fun nights indicated that they used a skill they learned to strengthen their family. • UNL For Families website had 54,000 hits in 2005

15. Making a Difference • 1,500 participated in at least 3 hours of educational programs. • 88% increased their knowledge of how to strengthen their family.

16. Replication • Interested communities form local Family Planning Teams • Teams identify needs and develop a plan for implementing Family Strengths Model • Teams select and/or develop programs to best meet needs

17. Replication • Develop marketing and dissemination plan • Evaluate impact

18. Replication • UNL for Families website provides: • research-based information on family strengths • ready-to-use program ideas for youth and family activities • examples of marketing strategies • additional resources that can be tailored to local needs

19. Handout • See handout for further program description, located at: www1.cyfernet.org/conffav/05-06-unlfam.rtf