Family Check-Up (FCU) for Adolescents

This is a program to reduce problematic behaviors and psychoactive substance use in adolescents, improve parenting skills, and reduce family conflicts.
The intervention is carried out in three stages:
1) Initial interview carried out by a professional with the participation of parents and adolescents to identify the family’s needs;
2) Assessment procedure, with family interaction and participation in different assessment activities. These are filmed, and a questionnaire is administered; and
3) Feedback, when the professional summarizes the results of the family assessment using motivational interviewing strategies. The discussion includes an overview of behaviors and practices that may require additional attention. If families choose to receive additional services, they can meet with a therapist and school professionals for assistance.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that participants in the program had a statistically significant reduction in antisocial behavior, alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use [1], and a decrease in school absences during the transition period between primary and secondary school, compared to the adolescents in the control group, who did not participate in the program [2].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Stormshak, E. A., Connell, A. & Dishion, T. J. (2009). An adaptive approach to family-centered intervention in schools: Linking intervention engagement to academic outcomes in middle and high school. Prevention Science: The Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 10(3), 221–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0131-3

[2] Stormshak, E. A., Connell, A. M., Véronneau, M.‑H., Myers, M. W., Dishion, T. J., Kavanagh, K. & Caruthers, A. S. (2011). An ecological approach to promoting early adolescent mental health and social adaptation: Family-centered intervention in public middle schools. Child Development, 82(1), 209–225. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01551.x

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