Family-Based Prevention Programs for Children and Adolescents

In an era when teaching faculty are far more inclined to recommend a series of journal articles instead of a text, it is a joyous occasion to find a book that clearly should be mandatory reading for all graduate students preparing to work with children and families. [This] is sure to become a treasured book: one that students will look back upon as influencing both their thinking and their practice. It is state of the art and gives students a glimpse into the theoretical backbones of family prevention programs as well as the complications in creating effective, large-scale interventions based on these programs. All the chapters follow a common thread: moving from a discussion of theory to details of the program design to methods of implementation. Students will emerge from each chapter with an understanding of the strengths of the programs as well as the most important future research questions that have yet to be addressed. The book will be equally valued by practitioners seeking to develop family-based prevention programs in their community. – PsycCritiques

This volume provides an accessible and up-to-date look at effective evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents, and families. An essential read for students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to improve the well-being of families in today’s society. – Leslie Leve, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon

This volume has it all. Clear descriptions of evidence-based prevention programs for diverse families with children of different ages are balanced by analysis of how targeted risk/protective factors lead to desirable outcomes. Thoughtful discussions of the steps and barriers involved in bringing programs to scale are presented while monitoring fidelity to the original intentions of the program creators. – Philip A. Cowan, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley

Evidence-based programming is all the rage these days, as it should be. Serving that end, this volume shares the design, implementation and effects of diverse programs that have proven themselves to be effective in preventing and/or enhancing child, adolescent and/or family functioning. It will no doubt prove to be a valuable resource for students of the family, those who provide services to families, and policymakers needing guidance on intervention efforts that merit their support and funding. – Jay Belsky, Ph.D., Robert M. and Natalie Reid Dorn Professor, University of California, Davis

The availability of effective family prevention programs is still not understood by policymakers and practitioners. This volume shows how much we have learned, documents the progress we are making in widely and effectively disseminating family programs, and delineates important steps that are being taken to further strengthen these programs. – Anthony Biglan, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at Oregon Research Institute and former President of the Society for Prevention Research