FAMILIES MATTER! PROGRAM 2.
The Families Matter! Program 2 (FMP 2) is an evidence-based, parent-focused intervention designed to promote positive parenting and effective parent-child communication about sexuality and sexual risk reduction, including risk for child sexual abuse and gender based violence, for parents or caregivers of 13-17 year olds. FMP 2 recognizes that many parents and guardians may need support to effectively convey values and expectations about sexual behavior and communicate important HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention messages to their children. The ultimate goal of FMP2 is to reduce sexual risk behavior among adolescents, including delayed onset of sexual debut, by using parents to deliver primary prevention to their children and increasing awareness and protective strategies against child sexual abuse and harmful gender norms that may lead to violence.
Families Matter! Program2 is delivered in 7 consecutive weekly group sessions lasting approximately 3 hours per session. Each FMP session builds on the foundation laid in the previous session. Parents are asked to bring their 13-17 year-old children to a designated session 5 to practice the communication skills learned during the intervention with the child. The program is facilitated by a team of two certified facilitators, one male and one female. Curriculum Highlights Each of the 7 FMP2 sessions has a specific focus and measurable objectives.
Session 1: Introduction to FMP and Steps to Understanding Your Child
Session 2: Good Parenting Skills
Session 3: Parents’ Role in Educating Their Children about Sexuality
Session 4: Information to Increase Comfort and Skills in Discussing Sex and Sexuality
Session 5: Discussing Sexuality and Pressures Children Face
Session 6: Understanding Child Sexual Abuse in an effort to address the globally pervasive and difficult to discuss issues of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which are associated with increased sexual risk among youth.
Session 7: Graduation.
FMP!2 curriculum has been tailored to include specific culturally acceptable and age-appropriate content surrounding these topics. By raising awareness of and highlighting a parent’s role in helping their children to prevent CSA and GBV, FMP promotes reflection, dialogue, and action across the broad spectrum of issues that contribute to these problems.
Connect To Retain trained 20 FMP2 facilitators who were certified to conduct the sessions in Kilifi south Sub county. 528 parents have been reached with the intervention.