Over the past seven weeks, 16 Whitehall-Coplay Middle School families made themselves stronger.

They participated in the Strengthening Families Program, a seven-week series designed to help families learn to navigate through the adolescent years. Youth and their parents took part in structured activities and discussion on topics such as setting goals for the future, having rules, managing stress and resisting peer pressure.

"I like the concept of [the program] – to make strong families even stronger," said WCMS Principal Peter Bugbee.

The evidence-based program developed at Iowa State University is delivered by trained facilitators from Valley Youth House, which funds the program with prevention education dollars from Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol Services. Penn State Extension administers the program by provides the training and support for facilitators and host schools, said Denise Continenza, extension educator at Penn State.

"It is nice to be able to see students from our school in a different context and to meet their families," said Bugbee, adding the program "increases the level of contact between families and the school."

SFP sessions started out each Wednesday evening with a family meal. Youth spent the next hour with two facilitators engaged in hands-on and practical activities.

Parents participated in guided discussions and learned strategies for providing oversight of their teens while meeting their increasing need for freedom and individuality. The final hour of the program offered time for families to have fun together through activities and playing games that reinforced concepts learned.

"It benefited us tremendously," said parent participant Angele Clark. "We saw positive changes, and it helped us show love and set limits to create balance in our household."

And what did the kids get out of it?

"I learned how to deal with peer pressure," saidBraulie Lehr, referring to the nine steps youth learn and practice as responses to peers when tempted to engage in risky behavior.

"I like the point chart we learned about," said Jiya Sommana. "I use it to motivate my son to do chores and physical activity. It really works. I also learned how to talk with my son and to be calm and cool. Now I know how to talk with him about tough things like substance abuse and bullying."

Whitehall plans to offer SFP again this fall to families of middle school students.

The series concluded with a video presentation highlighting everything the families did over the seven weeks.

State Rep. Dan McNeill, D-133, congratulated 16 families for taking time out of busy schedules to spend it with their children.