Strong African American Families (SAAF) Program

Strong African American Families (SAAF) Program The Strong African American Families (SAAF) Program Both programs have been tested via research trials through the Center for Family Research (www.cfr.uga.edu).

The Strong African American Families (SAAF) programs were developed by the Center for Family Research and are available for adoption by local community organizations, schools, universities, and/or churches. The SAAF and SAAF-Teen programs are interactive educational programs based on decades of longitudinal research conducted with hundreds of families across rural Georgia. The programs are strengt

h-based programs designed to enhance positive family interactions and to support youth and teens as they take the next steps toward a positive future. SAAF is designed for pre and early adolescent youth (10-14 years old) and their parents/caregivers. The program includes seven sessions and was originally developed to prevent early involvement substance use. Compared to youth who did not participate in SAAF, youth who attended SAAF:

1. Were less likely to start using drugs.
2. Delayed onset of sexual behavior.
3. Demonstrated fewer conduct problems. SAAF-Teen (SAAF-T) is designed for teens (14-16 years old) and their parents/caregivers. The program includes five sessions and was originally developed to prevent adolescent problem behaviors, particularly those most associated with HIV/AIDS risk. Compared to teens who did not participate in SAAF-T, teens who attended SAAF-T:

1. Decreased frequency of unprotected intercourse.
2. Increased condom efficacy.
3. Had fewer substance use problems.
4. Both programs also had positive outcomes related to parent/child communication, future orientation, and racial pride. For additional information:

View short informational videos for each program, featuring testimonials from families that participated in the programs at https://cfr.uga.edu/saaf-programs/. Contact our Dissemination Specialist, Gregory Rhodes, at 706.248.8422 or [email protected] or you can contact us at the Center for Family Research at 706.425.2992 and ask to speak with Tracy Anderson. She can also be reached via email at [email protected].

Happy Administrative Professional Day to Tanisha Washington! We appreciate all that you do for the Dissemination Team!
04/23/2026

Happy Administrative Professional Day to Tanisha Washington! We appreciate all that you do for the Dissemination Team!

We assisted Sheats Social Service implement their first cohort of SAAF. It was a great seven weeks and we thoroughly enj...
04/17/2026

We assisted Sheats Social Service implement their first cohort of SAAF. It was a great seven weeks and we thoroughly enjoyed the families.

04/01/2026

Prevention is possible when families have access to programs that reflect their strengths and experiences 🧡

Last year, The Children’s Trust partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families to pilot Strong African American Families (SAAF) in Massachusetts — an evidence-based program that supports African American youth ages 10–14 and their caregivers during a critical stage of development.

Through seven interactive sessions, families built skills in communication, resilience, and self-regulation while strengthening family relationships and celebrating cultural pride.
Community organizations across the state helped bring the program to life — creating welcoming spaces where families could learn, connect, and grow together.

The pilot showed what’s possible when prevention programs are culturally grounded, community-centered, and supported with practical resources like meals, childcare, and transportation.

👉 Learn more about the SAAF pilot: https://childrenstrustma.org/insights/saaf-program-pilot/

04/01/2026
03/19/2026
03/19/2026
First training of the year is in the books! Welcome Taliaferro County Family Connection to the SAAF Family! Taliaferro w...
03/19/2026

First training of the year is in the books! Welcome Taliaferro County Family Connection to the SAAF Family! Taliaferro was one of the original counties of the initial research study when SAAF was started so we are extremely excited to welcome them back.

https://childrenstrustma.org/insights/saaf-program-pilot/
03/02/2026

https://childrenstrustma.org/insights/saaf-program-pilot/

Discover how the Children’s Trust Partnership with DCF brought the Strong African American Families (SAAF) program to Massachusetts, expanding culturally grounded, evidence-based prevention supports for families and youth

Address

1095 College Station Drive/University Of
Athens, GA
30605

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17064252992

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Strong African American Families (SAAF) Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share