Welcome! You’ve found the right place if you are interested in learning how to strengthen your family relationships. The UVU Stronger Families Project is an educational, family-based program one night a week for 8 weeks. Using an evidence-based, nationally-recognized curriculum, we teach both parents and children how to improve their interaction and emotional patterns within the family. This program is completely free to families. In both family and individual classes, participants will learn about and discuss strategies to implement the following topics:
Research on our program demonstrates improved parenting skills and family relationships,
a reduction in problem behaviors, and improved social competencies and school performance.
Under the leadership of UVU Family Science faculty, UVU student interns implement
the program in multiple locations across Utah County.
The Stronger Families Project offers "Survival Skills for Healthy Families," a research-based
family life education course specially designed to meet the relational needs of parents
and their children in our community. Classes are taught at various locations across
Utah County completely free of charge by student interns and staff from Utah Valley
University. Participants in SFP meet one evening per week over the length of the 8-week
course. SFP provides the tools necessary to help families reach their optimal potential.
The Stronger Families Project provides each family with a free workbook to take notes and follow instruction during class. It correlates to the curriculum taught in the program. The workbook includes handouts that generate additional at-home weekly discussion and application worksheets to do with family members. These are intended for families to continue exercising fundamental skills for happy, healthy relationships.
In addition to general parenting strategies taught in family life education classes, interns will personalize content to each family’s needs through individual coaching. Parents will receive a weekly phone call and email. Ongoing points of contact help families accomplish their program goals. These vital services are another way the Project is helping participants develop healthy family functioning skills and build stronger relationships.
There are 8 classes total. To graduate, you need to attend 7 of the 8 classes.
No. Because this is a fully intern-led program, our staffing changes each semester and dictates the class schedule. Our class schedule is published near the start of each UVU semester, August for Fall or January for Spring. Thanks for your patience!
For the whole family program, the evening begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m. Families start in individual 1-hour classes, based on age/situation: parent, teen, children, and toddler-preschool classes. All will be learning the same material, but on a developmentally appropriate level, and how their role can support the family. The final 25 minutes will be a large-group “Family Class” class, with all family members together.
In the parent-only virtual site, the call begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. (we encourage you to log in about 5 minutes early to make sure everything is working!) and goes through 8 o'clock. The class is full of interactive activities and discussions, so be ready to engage!
Babes in arms are to stay with their parents. We have a Toddler/Preschool class for children 18 months to about 5 years old with trained teachers during the whole family site.
Each class is taught with developmentally appropriate curriculum specific to your child’s learning potential and interests. We try very hard to also teach socialization skills where children of same age would be grouped together. Even if it’s difficult at first for a child to attend class without a sibling, we have found that with patience and persistence, children adapt and learn best in the class suited for their age and needs.
Yes. The mid-weekly phone call is an additional resource we offer the families attending SFP. This allows us to personalize the content of the program to each family’s needs and help you get the most out of your SFP experience. Meeting accommodations (such as specifying a designated time for the mid-weekly phone call) can be made if this is the concern.
The purpose of the mid-weekly phone call is to follow up on homework and the goals you set on the "Getting to Know You" sheet that you filled out with your liaison during your first week of classes. Family Liaisons conduct the mid-weekly phone calls. They also send you a weekly email summary of what was taught that week in class specially individualized to your family. These ongoing points of contact is another way SFP helps you achieve your goals and move toward healthy family functioning.
Yes! The homework is designed to help your family apply principles learned in classes and work together better for a stronger, happier family. Homework for a given week includes having one-on-one time with each child and completing a workbook activity that pertains specifically to the lesson.
Of course! The Stronger Families Project is for all families, no matter the family situation. Everyone has unique experiences, and we value the insight you can bring to our classes through your personal lens.
We will take that into consideration as we take applications for our program. Please share information about your child’s needs at registration. We want you and your child to be comfortable and successful. If we frequently pull you out of the parent class to attend to your child, you’ll miss out and will be disruptive for the learners. For high-needs children, we may refer you to another program since we do not have trained and available teachers for one-one-one attention throughout the evening.
Yes! The Stronger Families Project is for all families, no matter the family situation. We value the insight you can bring to our classes with your life experiences and desire to contribute and learn.
Yes, but only once during the program. If you need to switch to another site permanently, that is the preferable route.
We know this program works. The lessons are based on research and evidence. They are tried and true. The families that see the most change from the SFP program are those that try to do one small thing each week to be better. If you put into place the commitment and follow through, it will yield great changes in your life.
This is no guarantee, however. Everyone has agency. Don’t be discouraged. If you feel like the program isn’t working for your family, please let us know. We can help connect you with any resources you may need.
University student interns majoring in Family Science, mainly from Utah Valley University, teach classes teach classes using an evidence-based, nationally-recognized curriculum that promotes proven principles that strengthen, support, and empower families. Student interns receive extensive academic training and have become certified to teach the curriculum and are supervised by UVU faculty.
