Creating Lasting Family Connections®
Creating Lasting Family Connections® (CLFC) is a personal and family strengthening program designed for youth ages 9–17 and their parents, guardians, or other caregivers. CLFC aims to build youth resiliency and improve parents’ ability to provide a nurturing environment. Facilitators lead separate groups of parents and youth through three modules, each with accompanying activities in a notebook. However, facilitators can be flexible in program implementation (e.g., can select which modules to implement and in what order and can choose to implement with parents only or youth only).
The first module focuses on “developing positive parental influences” and “developing a positive response” in youth around drug and alcohol issues. Facilitators teach parents about appropriate alcohol and drug knowledge and beliefs, the dynamics and impact of dependency, effective approaches for prevention, and treatment options. Facilitators also help parents explore their feelings, beliefs, and experiences around alcohol and drug use and teach parents how to set behavioral standards for their children. Facilitators teach youth how to communicate about alcohol and drug issues, make healthy decisions, and recognize negative pressures from family and friends.
The second module focuses on “raising resilient youth” and “developing independence and responsibility” in youth. Facilitators teach both parents and youth relationship skills and how to communicate, validate, and manage thoughts and feelings. Facilitators teach parents skills that support implementing expectations and consequences while encouraging dialogue, active participation, and bonding with their children. Facilitators help youth explore their personal responsibility and independence to help prepare them for adulthood and help them understand the challenges parents may experience.
The third module focuses on “getting real” by developing self-awareness, appropriate emotional expression, communication, and refusal skills. Facilitators teach parents and youth listening and communication skills and how to establish mutual respect in relationships. This third module can also include optional combined parent and youth sessions for families to practice these skills.
Families also receive case management services throughout and after the program to connect them with community resources as needed.
CLFC does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies of the program achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution.
Date Last Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Mar 2025
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Mar 2025
Date Originally Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Mar 2025
Sources
The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0
Target Population
CLFC is designed for youth ages 9–17 and their parents, guardians, or other caregivers.
Dosage
Facilitators deliver CLFC to parents and youth over 15 to 18 sessions (with each module having 5–6 sessions). Adults typically attend 2-hour sessions and youth typically attend 1.5-hour sessions. Sessions are generally offered once or twice a week. Alternatively, adults and youth can participate in three co-occurring weekend retreats.
Case management services consist of up to five consultations with a case manager for counseling and referral services, with follow-up case management provided for up to 6 months after the completion of the program.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Facilitators typically deliver CLFC in community settings. Facilitators can also deliver CLFC in schools.
Education, Certifications and Training
It is strongly recommended, though not required, that facilitators participate in a 5 to 10-day CLFC implementation training. After participating in the implementation training, facilitators receive CLFC certification, which enables them to train both parents and youth. Certified facilitators can receive up to 10 hours of ongoing technical assistance. A Master Trainer Certification is available for those who wish to train others to implement CLFC.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
Developing positive parental influences [Parent module]:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2023). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing positive parental influences manual: An alcohol and drug training for parents and other caring adults who wish to influence youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing positive parental influences notebook: An alcohol and drug training for parents and other caring adults who wish to influence youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Developing a positive response [Youth module]:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2023). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing a positive response manual: An alcohol and drug training for youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing a positive response notebook: An alcohol and drug training for youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Raising resilient youth [Parent module]:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Raising resilient youth manual: A training for parents and other caring adults. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Raising resilient youth notebook: A training for parents and other caring adults. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Developing independence and responsibility [Youth module]:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing independence and responsibility manual: A training for youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing independence and responsibility notebook: A training for youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Getting real [Parent module]:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Getting real manual: A communications training for parents, youth, and family [Parent module]. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Getting real notebook: A communications training for parents, youth, and family [Parent module]. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Getting real [Youth module]:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Getting real manual: A communications training for parents, youth, and family [Youth module]. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Getting real notebook: A communications training for parents, youth, and family [Youth module]. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Available languages
CLFC materials are available in English and Spanish.
Other supporting materials
Implementation Options for the CLFC Program
For More Information
Website: https://copes.org/the-original-clfc-program/
Phone: (502) 583-6820
Email: tstrader@sprynet.com
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Creating Lasting Family Connections® |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 1 |
| Eligible for Review | 1 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 1 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
Studies Rated Low
Study 15241Johnson, K., Bryant, D. D., Collins, D. A., Noe, T. D., Strader, T. N., & Berbaum, M. (1998). Preventing and reducing alcohol and other drug use among high-risk youths by increasing family resilience. Social Work, 43(4), 297-308. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/43.4.297
Johnson, K., Strader, T., Berbaum, M., Bryant, D., Bucholtz, G., Collins, D., & Noe, T. (1996). Reducing alcohol and other drug use by strengthening community, family, and youth resiliency: An evaluation of the Creating Lasting Connections Program. Journal of Adolescent Research, 11(1), 36-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743554896111004
Strader, T., Collins, D., Noe, T., & Johnson, K. (1997). Mobilizing church communities for alcohol and other drug abuse prevention through the use of volunteer church advocate teams. Journal of Volunteer Administration, 15(2), 16-29.
Johnson, K., Noe, T., Collins, D., Strader, T., & Bucholtz, G. (2000). Mobilizing church communities to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse: A model strategy and its evaluation. Journal of Community Practice, 7(2), 1-27.
This study received a low rating because baseline equivalence of the intervention and comparison groups was necessary and not demonstrated.