Family Solutions
Program
(FSP)
A multiple family group
prevention/early intervention
program for at-risk youth
Brought to Sweetwater County
School District #1 by
Families 4 Change and
Dr. William Quinn
Picture This:
• You're a parent who never graduated
high school;
• You're a parent whose only interactions
with schools have been negative ones;
• You're a parent who has zero
recollection of how to divide fractions;
Imagine If:
 You have to work so much that your
child disregards your authority
 You don’t know the names of your
child’s teachers or the names of their
friends
 You get a call saying your child has
been caught shoplifting for the third
time
Imagine how your child would suffer from
your knowledge deficit.
A Look through Youth’s Eyes
 My parent(s) didn’t
graduate, why
should I?
 My parent(s) told me
about how they got
suspended all the
time. They think my
teachers and
principal have it out
for me.
A Look through Youth’s
Eyes
 My parent(s) don’t
even know how to do
my homework.
Besides they don’t
have the time to
help even if they did.
 They could care less.
 They don’t know
where I am and will
never find out if I
steal the things I
want.
If only someone or something could help this
parent and youth become connected enough
to support each other.
We May Have Found
the Answer (and it isn’t a personal,
magical, knowledgeable nanny)
Family Solutions
is built on
looking ahead,
instilling hope,
developing
skills, healing
conflict in
relationships,
and locating
resources that
can assist in
productive living
FSP can lead to success in
school
• Providing a simple
family conversation
around the dinner
table can enhance
life-long learning
and achievement.
Family First
If someone as busy as the President of the
United States isn’t too busy for
family…neither are we.
Prevention is the key.
More about FSP
 Targets at-risk youth and their families
 Multi-family: youth and siblings age 6+
 Early intervention
 Requires parental involvement
 10 week group
(mandatory attendance required)
 2 trained facilitators present at all times
 Alternative to more complex consequences
Session Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction and Trust Building
Cooperation
Decision Making and Peer Pressure
Communication and Contracts
Family Goals
Session Topics
6.
7.
8.
Education (very important to FSP)
Community Service
Topic of Groups Choice; optional
1.
9.
10.
Examples: positive parenting, bullying, gang
awareness, healthy relationships, etc.
Anger Control and Conflict Resolution
Graduation
2008-2009 AT-RISK STUDENT PROGRAM EVALUATION
RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
•Utilized FSP for last 4 years.
•Goal to reduce truancy, grade retention, and
expulsion.
•Increase graduation, parent involvement,
communication, positive outcomes for success.
•We are ahead of South Carolina.
Wyoming Graduation Education
Statistics
o In 2008-2009 SSD #1 had a graduation rate of 71.43 percent.
o This means 255 out of 357 of our students earned a High School
Diploma.
o What Happened to the 102 students who did not graduate?
o Wyoming’s goal for graduation is 90% or above
NOT 71.43%.
Wyoming State Graduation Data 2008-2009
FSP SUPPORTS and
GUIDES
» FSP has obligations to those they train:
» They offer support at any time needed.
» Support in ALL stages of the group process.
» Send the facilitators weekly agendas and reminder
emails.
» Reading and responding to weekly
summary/reports.
This means that all materials are provided and
groups are planned out and run consistently no
matter who the facilitators are.
How Can We Implement FSP
into Schools?

The multi-family groups (8-10 families meet one night per week
for two hours for ten consecutive weeks. In addition to parents
and the targeted youth, siblings and other important family
members in the youth’s life are encouraged to attend each group).

FSP Intervention is led by professionals trained by Families4Change,
Inc. These professionals must possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s
degree and have experience working with youth and families. Schools
commonly recruit school counselors, school psychologists and school
social workers to be trained to lead the FSP.
Decision Rules
Decision Rules
• 1. Excessive Truancy/Tardies/Excessive Absenteeism
• 2. Disciplinary infraction, may be in lieu of suspension
• 3. Family reunited from alternative placement (foster
Care, WBI, ETC)
• 4. Principal (Administrator), School Counselor/AMP
Team recommendation
Tier 3 Progress Monitoring
• SWIS, Attendance, BASC-2, SSIS, Academic
Progress, FSP assessment information, FSP
Attendance
Next Step




Families are interviewed by school personnel
and FSP trained facilitator
Explanation of FSP
Mandatory commitment for attendance
FSP Pre-attendance assessments
When 8-10 families have been interviewed the
FSP group will begin, meeting place will be
determined.
ESL
FSP will be implemented for Spanish speaking families.
Referrals will come from Overland, DV, and Sage, 5-6,
Jr. High and High School.
Monica Anderson and a trained FSP facilitator will
Facilitate the program.
Well That’s Great, But What Do We
Need From You As Administrators?
We Need Your Help
• Commitment
• Creative ideas to implement this
• Collaborating to make this a district
wide intervention option for behavioral
needs.
FSP and Trained Facilitators
Promise…
• There will be no drain on budgets.
• Renee wrote a grant that was accepted through
United Way and got full funding for at least one
year !!
• There will be no time commitment for you.
FSP facilitators will handle all the intake,
interviews and group preparation work.