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FAST as a substance abuse prevention strategy
Written by Dr. Lynn McDonald in collaboration with FAST. Among the range of interventions needed to address the opioid and drug abuse crisis, community-based strategies and two-generational, whole-family preventions which build protective factors of resilience are worth investment. Protective factors, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), are characteristics that reduce the likelihood… READ MORE →
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Center for the Study of Social Policy: Making the Link (with the Strengthening Families framework)
The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) featured the FAST® Program in their Making the Link series, connecting the program to the Strengthening Families™ framework. Strengthening Families is a “research-informed approach” that strives to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families by building five protective factors: Parental resilience Social connections Knowledge of parenting… READ MORE →
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A century-long legacy of family engagement at The Family Center of Columbus
The Family Center of Columbus has been empowering families within the community of Columbus, Georgia, for over a century. Serving approximately 10,000 families and community members each year, the organization has been responding and adapting to local needs since it was founded in 1909. As part of an umbrella-approach to increasing family engagement, The Family Center… READ MORE →
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The power of social capital to reduce disparities
Written by Dr. Lynn McDonald in collaboration with FAST The Kids Count (2016) and Race for Results (2017) reports by the Annie E. Casey Foundation identified disparities in overall child well-being across America. The local and national trends made visible through these reports highlight stark racial and socio-economic gaps, among other inequalities, in education, family and community, economic well-being,… READ MORE →
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UNODC brings FAST to central Asia
The FAST® Program was implemented in five developing countries in Asia in an effort to “prevent drug use, HIV/AIDS and crime and young people.” Funded by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the program became an integral component to a project which targeted these issues, among others, by testing family skills interventions within… READ MORE →
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FAST in Australia
“FAST is such a part of who I am now. FAST opened so many doors for me. I was at home with my children when I was attending the program. After the program – and then becoming a Coordinator – I was given a job at the school to support families and run playgroups. FAST… READ MORE →
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At Albuquerque Public Schools, a commitment to meaningful family engagement
“We are dedicated to running FAST with passion. We are here for the families – to empower parents and support our students.” Monica Garcia, FAST Specialist and Certified FAST Trainer at APS Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), serving approximately 84,000 students in 142 schools across the city and beyond, has long valued the importance of family engagement.… READ MORE →
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The “Missouri Approach” to juvenile justice centers on family and community engagement
The “Missouri Approach” to juvenile justice emphasizes moving beyond symptoms to the root causes of juvenile delinquency so that changes made by young people are long-lasting, preparing them to return and contribute positively to their school, home, and community. The Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS), housed within the Department of Social Services since 1974,… READ MORE →
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FAST through the eyes of participating families
Dr. Melodie Fearnow-Kenney, from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for School-Community Collaboration, and her colleagues recently investigated child and parent perceptions of FAST in their empirical article, “Child and Parent Voices on a Community-Based Prevention Program.” While Fearnow-Kenney and her colleagues acknowledge the vast efficacy research that has been conducted on FAST, they were specifically interested in… READ MORE →
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At the Indian Community School of Milwaukee, FAST helps build trust between families and the school
“It is not just the school staff who is educating the students, but also, crucially, the parents, the families, and the community.” Shelly Cornelius, Social Worker and FAST Team Member Indian Community School of Milwaukee (ICS) has been educating American Indian students in the Milwaukee area for nearly 50 years with a mission to “cultivate an enduring… READ MORE →
