Each group leader is responsible for three or four families and works with the same group of families for the duration of the program. The group leader spends time with each family during the session and offers help when needed. They must have good organizational skills and a strong sense of responsibility for carrying out the program as designed. Affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Service is administered through each State's land-grant university. As it relates to youth and families, the mission of the Cooperative Extension Service is to provide preventive education through county-based services throughout the United States.
Coordinators can be either community volunteers or paid from small local or State grants.
Facilitators receive at least 2 days of training to learn about the background, evaluation, goals, and content of the program and to take part in session activities. Training also includes information on practical considerations for implementing the SFP 10-14, such as recruiting families and handling challenging parents and youth during program sessions. Onsite trainings by a team of experienced trainers can be scheduled. Consultation and technical assistance for facilitators are available after the training at no cost. Recruitment Recruitment is carried out by a local family-serving agency such as a substance abuse prevention agency, the Cooperative Extension Service, a church, a school, the YMCA or YWCA, or another community group.