Strengthening Hawai'i Families
Strengthening Hawai`i Families (SHF) is the only prevention program developed in Hawaii to be recognized by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) as a national model program. SHF is designed to prevent and reduce substance use by reducing risk factors associated with substance abuse and enhancing protective factors associated with resilient families. SHF brings family members together to help families discover for themselves what works best for them.

A team of four facilitators work with a group of 6-10 families to cover the following topics: exploring and practicing family values; cultural and generational continuity; goal-setting; personal and family resilience; communication; problem-solving; anger management; and wellness including substance abuse prevention and healthy lifestyle choices.

SHF is a 14-week cultural values-based, skill-building program for elementary-age children and their families. It is presented in 14 consecutive weekly sessions, each lasting two and a half hours. The SHF program includes three training components: a parent training program, a children's skills training program, and a family skills training program. Each session begins with the parents and children together for energizer activities, multicultural stories, goal and objectives, meals, and family skills training. Then the parents and children meet separately in their respective training groups for additional activities and skills training. The session ends with the parents and children group reconvening to share what they learned, practice skills, and bond with other families.

Then the parents and children meet separately in their respective training groups for additional activities and skills training. The session ends with the parents and children group reconvening to share what they learned, practice skills, and bond with other families.

The Strengthening Hawai`i Families program is age and developmentally appropriate and provides a culturally comprehensive framework that allows communities to easily and effectively adapt and implement the program for diverse populations. Being a values- and assets-based program, SHF is appropriate for families in multicultural group settings, which are inclusive and embracing of all ages, gender, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

SHF Workshop Series
A 6 session SHF workshop series was developed as `Ohana or Family Nights for elementary-age children, their parents, and siblings. The Workshop Series is based on the original 14-week curriculum content and is being implemented for families in Ewa Beach. A 7-week series is also being implemented at select sites in the Kahuku Complex Elementary Schools and Castle Complex Elementary Schools.