Father-Daughter Relationships

Did you know that throughout her lifetime, a daughter is profoundly affected by the kind of relationship she has with her father - often more so than by her relationship with her mother? As noted on the pta.org website, the girl who grows up having a comfortable, communicative, supportive relationship with her father generally has advantages over other girls when it comes to being self-confident and self-reliant, resisting peer pressure for premature sex, smoking, drinking alcohol and other self-destructive behaviors.

Facilitators for the Strengthening Families program sponsored by BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, see the importance of the father- child bond in their six-week program that helps families prepare for the teen years.

“We really want to encourage dads to come to the program,” says Louis Knight, former program facilitator. “I know from experience as a father of a teen daughter just how important it is to keep the lines of communication open.”

How can fathers and daughters build these strong bonds that last a lifetime? One way is the problem solving and communication skills learned and practiced in the Strengthening Families Program.

The program is staffed by experienced facilitators and designed with the busy family in mind. To help families make the most of their valuable time, dinner is served 5:30 - 6:00 pm. Teens and parents then attend separate groups for the first hour. The last hour brings parents and teens back together for group discussion and family time. The program is geared for parents and youth age 10-14, but younger siblings are also welcome. A nominal fee of $20.00 per family is charged, but scholarships are available. For more information, or to register call BRiDGES at 697-3947.

Iowa State University's Strengthening Families Program:
For Parents and Youth 10 - 14

• Science-based prevention program
• Seven session program for parents and youth age 10 - 14
• Reduces substance abuse and other problem behaviors in youth
• Improves family communication, problem solving, and stress management skills

Strengthening families is a workshop for parents and their children ages 10 - 14, with facilitators leading sessions once a week for seven weeks. While parents work with a trained facilitator for the first hour of the program each session, the youth work with facilitators in their own group. During the second hour, both parents and children come together to learn how to set limits and strengthen bonds within the family. In the program's seven session, parents will add to their "parenting toolbox", and teens will gain a greater respect for themselves and their parent/caregivers. Each session contains a variety of activities.

• Parent sessions include viewing and discussing videotapes which portray negative and positive interactions with youth, skill-building activities and group support.
• Youth sessions include game-like learning activities, discussions and skill-building activities.
• Family sessions include parent-youth discussions, games, projects, skill-building practice and videotape viewing.

Strengthening Families is typically offered through local Madison County schools but facilitated and coordinated by BRiDGES. For information on how to bring Strengthening Families to your school, call BRiDGES at 697-3947.

For more information about the Iowa State University Strengthening Families Program and its research base visit http://www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp/