Strong African American Families Teen Program
The Strong African American Families – Teen Program (SAAF-T) is a 5 session program designed for teens aged 14 – 16 and their caregivers. The goal of SAAF-T is to build on the strengths of African American families in order promote positive development throughout the teenage years. SAAF-T focuses on reducing risks that can get in the way of positive development, with a focus on reducing substance abuse and sexual risk-taking that can lead to HIV and other STIs.
Teen Topics
- Likes, Choices, and Goals
- Money, Jobs, and the Future
- Job Choices, Pay, and Education
- Choices and Consequences about Sex
- Goals for the Future and Barriers to Goals
Caregiver Topics
- Parenting Teens
- Helping Teens Move toward Adulthood
- Caregivers’ Involvement in School
- Helping Teens with Peer Pressure and Temptations
- Helping Teens Succeed in School
Family Topics
- Building Strong African American Families
- Getting Along Away from Home and at Home
- Getting Ahead in the World
- Helping Teens Succeed in School
- Appreciating Each Other and Reaching Goals
Compared to teens that did not participate in the SAAF-T Program, teens who did participate:
- Demonstrated fewer conduct problems
- Had less frequent substance use
- Had fewer substance use problems
- Experienced reduced depressive symptoms
- Decreased frequency of unprotected intercourse
- Increased condom efficacy
Caregivers experienced improved caregiving practices such as enhanced:
- Communication about risky behavior
- Problem solving between parents and teens
- Parental monitoring
- Support for teen’s academic engagement
- Racial socialization practices including instilling racial pride and teaching strategies for dealing with discrimination
Testimonies from SAAF-T Participants: What did you learn in the SAAF-T Programs?
Teen Responses:
- How to make better decisions when it comes to sex, relationships and money management.
- How to handle problems I might have and who to talk to about these problems.
- How to make my own decisions and what it’s like to pay your own bills.
- I understand that there can be serious consequences to having sex.
- I learned new things about what you should know about having sex and dealing with peer pressure.
Parent/Caregiver Responses:
- I liked meeting other parents of teens and learning that we all experience the same things.
- The program helped me learn that you have to be a good listener. You have to be an askable parent.
- The experience taught me to be more open-minded with my son and how we could sit down and discuss problems openly.
- I learned how to talk to my teen and educate him about sex and STDs.
- My daughter and I have always been close but being a part of this session has truly brought us closer.
Featured SAAF Articles
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