Project Timeline & Stages

This four-year grant has 3 phases:

Phase 1:

We have conducted over 90 confidential interviews and focus groups with service members and partners/spouses to better understand the impact of active duty experiences on parenting, the needs and challenges for the returning service member, spouse and children during reintegration, and, most importantly, what would be helfpul in making this adjustment easier for the family as a whole. In addition, child care providers, key informants in the fields of behavioral health, family support, and early child development have been interviewed. We completed this phase in September 2009.

Phase 2:

A home-based family program has been developed based on what we learned from service members, spouses and other key stakeholders in Phase 1. The program supported families with young children in addressing the potential impact of deployment separation and combat-related stress on parenting and the parent-child relationship. We completed this phase in June 2010 and revised it for Phase 3–the current phase.

Phase 3: Current Phase

The Strong Families program will be evaluated using something called a randomized controlled trial with 128 families. In the randomized controlled trial, half of families who participate receive the Strong Families Strong Forces program immediately, and the other half will receive it ten weeks later.

What happens?

Two members of Strong Families staff will visit you at your home for a total of 10 times over a period of approximately 2 months. They will come back again 3 months later.

PHASE 3 OF THE STUDY IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!! YOUR FAMILY COULD BE ONE OF THE FAMILIES!!