Contact:	Kerby T. Alvy, Ph.D. Executive Director Center for the Improvement of Child Caring 11331 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 103 Studio City, CA 91604–3147 Tel: (818) 980–0903; also Hank Spala at (800) 325–CICC Fax: (818) 753–1054
Purpose:	Foster family communication and combat juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and other negative outcomes
Target:	African American parents of children ages 2 through 12
Description:	EBPP is a cognitive-behavioral program specifically created for African American parents that seeks to foster effective family communication, healthy identity, extended family values, child growth and development, and self-esteem. The program facilitates efforts to combat child abuse, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, gang violence, learning disorders, behavior problems, and emotional disturbances. EBPP is based on a prosocial achievement orientation to African American parenting that recognizes the special pressures in inner-city communities that make it difficult for parents to maintain this orientation. Its basic ideas are derived from the writings of African American parenting scholars, from research with African American parents, and from adaptations of parenting skills that have been found helpful in raising children of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The program has two possible formats: a class with 15 3-hour training sessions that emphasize role playing and home behavior projects, and a 1-day seminar for large groups. Black educators and mental health professionals teach basic child management skills using culturally appropriate methods. Each of the parenting strategies and skills is taught by making reference to African proverbs such as "Children are the reward of life," and "A shepherd does not strike his sheep." Systematic use of these proverbs helps to ground the program in the wisdom of African ancestors, and is one of the many ways that the program promotes cultural pride. Interactive groups address topics including appropriate and inappropriate behavior, discipline, pride, coping with racism, African-origin family values, preventing drug abuse, and single parenting. Two companion programs for the general population of parents and for Latino parents are available.
Evaluation:	EBPP was field tested on two cohorts of parents and their first- and second-grade children. Pre-post changes were compared in a quasi-experimental design with 109 treatment and 64 control families. Significant reduction of parental rejection was observed, along with improvements in the quality of family relationships and child behaviors. At 1-year followup, reductions in rejection and problem behaviors were maintained. Both the long and short versions have been well received in African American communities nationwide, and 1,500 instructors have been trained and are delivering the programs.

(Source: Strengthening America's Families Project, University of Utah, Model Family Strengthening Program Descriptions)

Parenting IS Prevention Training of Trainers Workshop, 1998	SAMHSA

Office of National Drug Control Policy