Table 6.
Weekly Session Overview for Original Familias Unidas vs. Familias Unidas for Health and Wellness
| Session | Key Session Objectives | Original Familias Unidas (Group Sessions: Parent-Only Discussions = 2 h.; Family Sessions: Parent and Adolescent Discussions = ~45 min) | Familias Unidas for Health and Wellness (Group Sessions: Parent-Only Discussions + Adolescent Physical Activity + Group Activity = 2.5 h); Family Sessions: Parent and Adolescent Discussions = ~45 min.) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent-Only Discussions | Adolescent Physical Activity | Group Activity | |||
| Family Session 1 Engagement and Orientation to Familias Unidas | 1. Meet and join with the family 2. Review intervention goals 3. Map family’s needs to intervention goals |
Discussion focuses on helping parents protect adolescents from engaging in risky behaviors (e.g., substance use, risky sex) | Discussion focuses on helping parents protect adolescents from physical health risks (e.g., diabetes, heart disease) + risky behaviors | ||
| Group 1 Parent Involvement in Adolescent Worlds | 1. Identify parents’ goals for their youth 2. Identify adolescent risks in family, school, and peer worlds 3. Discuss parental role in protecting youth from risks |
Discussion focuses on protecting youth from risky behaviors; parents presented with adolescent rates of risky behaviors | Discussion focuses on protecting youth from physical health risks + risky behaviors; parents presented with adolescent rates of obesity and lifestyle behaviors + risky behaviors | SPARK games (e.g., Snakes and Lizards, Partner Ball Challenges) | Cooking class: - Review MyPlate.g ov guidelines - Prepare healthy recipe |
| Group 2 Communication | 1. Review effective parent-adolescent communication 2. Discuss communication barriers 3. Practice effective communication |
Communication discussion and examples are applied to adolescent risky behaviors | Communication discussion and examples are applied to adolescent lifestyle behaviors + risky behaviors | SPARK games (e.g., Workout Buddies, Partner Ball Exchange) | Park overview/ obstacle course |
| Family Session 2 Family Communication | 1. Parents teach adolescents communication skills 2. Discuss a relevant issue in the adolescent’s life |
Guided discussions and role plays about adolescent risky behaviors | Guided discussions and role plays about adolescent lifestyle behaviors + risky behaviors | ||
| Group 3 Behavior Management | 1. Review effective behavior management 2. Discuss behavior management barriers 3. Practice behavior management skills |
Behavior management discussion and examples are applied to adolescent risky behaviors | Communication discussion and examples are applied to adolescent lifestyle behaviors + risky behaviors | SPARK games (e.g., Stick with Me, Houdini Hoops) | Yoga class |
| Group 4 Monitoring of Peers | 1. Discuss influence of peers 2. Review parental monitoring of peers 3. Discuss strategies for monitoring peers |
Peer monitoring discussion and examples are applied to adolescent risky behaviors | Peer monitoring discussion and examples are applied to adolescent lifestyle behaviors + risky behaviors | SPARK games (e.g., Space Mountain, Super Hero Cape) | Dance activity |
| Group 5 Substance Use/Other Unhealthy Behaviors | 1. Discuss consequences of substance use/other unhealthy behaviors 2. Role-play peer pressure resistance skills |
Discussion focuses on substance use only | Discussion focuses on substance use and other unhealthy behaviors (e.g., sugary beverage intake, screen time) | SPARK games (e.g., Triangle Tag, Builders and Bulldozers) | Cooking class: - Portion control activity - Mindful snacking activity |
| Family Session 3 Monitoring of Peers/Unhealthy Behaviors | 1. Adolescents describe relationship with peers 2. Parents and adolescents communicate about consequences of substance use/ unhealthy behaviors 3. Develop a family plan for addressing peer issues |
Guided discussions and role plays about substance use only | Guided discussions and role plays about substance use and other unhealthy behaviors (e.g., sugary beverage intake, screen time) | ||
| Group 6 Parental Investment in School World | 1. Discuss parents’ involvement in school 2. Parents review strategies for increasing school involvement |
Discussion focuses on adolescent school bonding and academic achievement and how this relates to reduced risky behaviors | Discussion focuses on adolescent school bonding, academic achievement, and school wellness opportunities for improved health; parents are taught to access school lunch menus to review with adolescents | SPARK games (e.g., SNAG Golf) | Cooking class: - Prepare healthy school lunch - Plan healthy breakfast and lunch menus |
| Group 7 Adolescent Risky Sexual Behavior/HIV | 1. Discuss prevalence and consequences of risky sex 2. Learn safety skills to promote safe sex. 3. Role-play safe sex conversations |
Guided discussions and role plays about adolescent risky sex | Guided discussions and role plays about adolescent risky sex | SPARK games (e.g., QuickStart Tennis) | Zumba class |
| Family Session 4 Adolescent Risky Sexual Behavior/HIV | 1. Parents and adolescents communicate about consequences of risky sex 2. Parents describe rules and values around risky sex 3. Practice peer pressure resistance skills |
Discussion focuses on adolescent risky sex | Discussion focuses on adolescent risky sex | ||
| Group 8 Prevention Every Day | 1. Review content of all intervention sessions 2. Process experiences in intervention, including skills learned |
Discussion focuses on adolescent risky behaviors | Discussion focuses on adolescent lifestyle behaviors + risky behaviors | SPARK games (e.g., the Amazing Race) | Healthy group party |
Note. SPARK = Sports, Play, and Active Recreation (Sallis et al., 1997)