Can Family-Based Prevention be Successfully Implemented in Disadvantaged Primary Schools? Findings from a Pilot of Strengthening Family Connections in Australia

This paper reports a pilot study evaluating the implementation of Strengthening Family Connections (SFC), the Australian adaptation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP), a manualised family intervention recommended within international research. The study examined implementation along with changes in participant-reported outcomes over time, including child adjustment measured post-intervention and at 3- and 12-month follow-up. Families were recruited from 20 SFC groups delivered between 2012 and 2017 in disadvantaged primary schools in regional Victoria, Australia. A total of 125 parent–child dyads completed evaluation surveys at baseline and 52 remained in the study at 12-month follow-up. The children in the study demonstrated greater vulnerability than normative state samples of similar age. Those who remained in the study until the 12-month follow-up showed better baseline adjustment. Statistically significant changes were observed over time in parent-reported child school attendance (effect size [ES] = 0.40 standard deviation units), and child-reported antisocial peer affiliation (ES = 0.43) and family conflict (ES = 0.63). Based on non-random allocation, these changes were similar across the 8-session and 14-session versions, with some changes being greater with the 8-session version. Structural equation modelling revealed that reductions in family conflict from baseline to post-intervention were associated with lower antisocial peer affiliation at 3-month follow-up. Findings support the feasibility of implementing the Australian adaptation of the SFP in disadvantaged primary schools and document favourable changes in participant-reported outcomes over time. Controlled studies are needed to determine intervention’s effectiveness and to compare the relative effectiveness of the 8-session and 14-session versions.