Families and Schools Together
Families and Schools Together (FAST) is a group-based family intervention program for at-risk children. Groups of 9-12 families gather for 8 facilitated 2.5 hour weekly meetings that include a family meal, structured activities, parent support time, and parent-child play therapy. Meetings are facilitated by a trained team of 4 to 8 people, including parents, teachers, school representatives, and community-based workers such as social workers or counselors. FAST teams are representative of the ethnic or cultural background of participating families. Families then run monthly follow-up meetings for 2 years (YG-FAST). The FAST model has been expanded to include Baby FAST, Pre-K FAST, Kids FAST, Middle School FAST, and Teen FAST (FAST).
What could this strategy improve?
Expected Benefits
Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:
- Improved youth behavior
- Improved social emotional skills
Potential Benefits
Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:
- Increased school engagement
- Increased parental self-efficacy
- Improved social networks
- Improved family functioning
- Improved mental health
What does the research say about effectiveness? -+
There is strong evidence that Families and Schools Together (FAST) improves children’s behavior and social skills (YG-FAST, Knox 2011a). Parents also benefit from the program as family functioning improves (Crozier 2010), and parent engagement and connection to the school community increases (McDonald 2015).
For participating elementary school children, FAST reduces aggression and problem behaviors directed at others (YG-FAST). The program also helps children improve their social skills and avoid withdrawal, anxiety, and depression (YG-FAST). A Phoenix and San Antonio-based study suggests FAST participation reduces the likelihood that black students attending primarily Hispanic schools switch schools. Switching schools can reduce academic achievement and self-esteem and increase the likelihood of dropping out for children who switch, and slow instruction for all students (Fiel 2013).
FAST increases parents' self-efficacy and confidence in their parenting (Ackley 2010, Crozier 2010). Family relationships function more smoothly and parents feel more supported than non-participating peers (Crozier 2010). In some circumstances, FAST parents become more socially connected and more involved with their children’s schools (McDonald 2015, Gamoran 2012, Crozier 2010, Ackley 2010). Parents report improved communication and more positive interaction following program participation. Parents also report that FAST’s play sessions and family meals are particularly useful (Knox 2011a).
FAST programs have notably high retention rates among low income, marginalized families (McDonald 2012). FAST participation has had positive effects on child functioning among Native American, African American, and Latino youth (YG-FAST, McDonald 2012).
Baby FAST may yield similar improvements to family functioning when directed at teen mothers. One study suggests it increases parents’ self-efficacy, improves parent-child bonds, reduces family stress and conflict, and increases social support (McDonald 2009a). However, additional evidence is needed to confirm the effects of Baby FAST.
A sample program budget indicates that Kids FAST for elementary school students costs about $14,700 to serve 40 families (FAST).
Implementation Examples -+
FAST is used in 46 states in urban, inner city, and rural communities, and 12 foreign countries (FAST).
Implementation Resources -+
FAST - Families and Schools Together Inc (FAST). Protecting hearts and minds.
Citations -+
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
Ackley 2010* - Ackley MK, Cullen PM. Strengthening families through community collaboration: Implementing the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program. Children & Schools. 2010;32(3):183-6.
Crozier 2010 - Crozier M, Rokutani L, Russett JL, Godwin E, Banks GE. A multisite program evaluation of Families and Schools Together (FAST): Continued evidence of a successful multifamily community-based prevention program. School Community Journal. 2010;20(1):187-207.
FAST - Families and Schools Together Inc (FAST). Protecting hearts and minds.
Fiel 2013* - Fiel JE, Haskins AR, Turley RNL. Reducing school mobility: A randomized trial of a relationship-building intervention. American Educational Research Journal.2013;50(6):1188-1218.
Gamoran 2012* - Gamoran A, Lopez-Turley RN, Turner A, Fish R. Differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic families in social capital and child development: First-year findings from an experimental study. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility. 2012;30(1):97-112.
Knox 2011a* - Knox L, Guerra NG, Williams KR, Toro R. Preventing children’s aggression in immigrant Latino families: A mixed methods evaluation of the Families and Schools Together program. American Journal of Community Psychology. 2011;48(1-2):65-76.
McDonald 2009a* - McDonald L, Conrad T, Fairtlough A, et al. An evaluation of a groupwork intervention for teenage mothers and their families. Child & Family Social Work. 2009;14(1):45-57.
McDonald 2012* - McDonald L, FitzRoy S, Fuchs I, Fooken I, Klasen H. Strategies for high retention rates of low-income families in FAST (Families and Schools Together): An evidence-based parenting programme in the USA, UK, Holland and Germany. European Journal of Developmental Psychology. 2012;9(1):75-88.
McDonald 2015* - McDonald L, Miller H, Sandler J. A social ecological, relationship-based strategy for parent involvement: Families And Schools Together (FAST). Journal of Children’s Services. 2015;10(3):218-230.
UW WCER-FAST 2013 - Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER), University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Education. On 25th anniversary, Families and Schools Together (FAST) celebrates international research. 2013
YG-FAST - Youth.gov (YG), Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP). Families And Schools Together (FAST).