CFYR Family Matters Photos by Waqas Mahmood

Quick Fact A Public Health Approach 1) Primary - the general population of to Reducing Youth Violence youth aged 10-29 in high risk areas; After twelve months of 2) Secondary - youth aged 10-17 at In the Caribbean, many families face family counseling treatment, higher risk for delinquency; and a significant percentage of the prospect of being economically 3) Tertiary - youth in conflict with the beneficiary youth experienced and socially marginalized, making their a reduction in risk factors law. Youth and families are matched youth more at risk for involvement in with interventions based on their level delinquent behavior that leads to crime of risk. and violence. The United States Agency % for International Development’s (US- 65 % Family Matters St. Kitts 68 AID) Community, Family and Youth Re- St. Lucia and Nevis silience (CFYR) Program takes a public USAID/CFYR’s Family Matters interven- health approach using evidence-based tion is implemented in all three focus % and targeted interventions with youth countries to reduce the likelihood 85 in St. Lucia, Guyana, and St. Kitts and that vulnerable youth, aged 10 to 17, Guyana Nevis based on three levels will engage in delinquent behavior. of risk differentiation: Participants were selected using the Youth Services Eligibility Tool (Y-SET), California (USC). In mid-2017, the an assessment that identifies youth model was adapted for the Eastern at the highest risk of engaging in and Southern Caribbean based on 19 delinquent behavior, who are subse- focus groups conducted in St. Lucia, quently referred to a 12-month family St. Kitts and Nevis, and Guyana. The “I was on a bad path … but strengthening treatment. Family sys- impact of Family Matters is being as- now I’m proud of myself and tems approaches have been rigorously sessed through a randomized control my family is proud of me too.” evaluated and are increasingly imple- trial, which will be completed in 2020. mented to address systemic social and – Youth Beneficiary, St. Lucia health problems. Successful Reduction of Risk Factors Family counselors trained by USAID/ After 12 months of treatment, the to perform well in school. Academic CFYR work with participating youth Y-SET results of youth participating in research shows that improvements and their families in a seven-phase se- Family Matters demonstrate a signifi- within the family system are linked ries of scheduled home visits designed cant reduction in all nine risk factors with improved behavior among at-risk to change risky behaviors, strengthen measured. A total reduction in risk youth. families, and build protective factors factors was achieved among 85% of (e.g. family cohesion, communication, beneficiary youth in Guyana, 68% in St. As part of the public health approach, youth self-esteem and emotional USAID targets individuals and behav- Lucia, and 65% in St. Kitts and Nevis. self-regulation). After six months iors in geographical-locations that Overall, 56% of youth experi- of treatment, youth risk levels are account for most of the crime and enced such a significant drop in reassessed using the Y-SET to evalu- violence within USAID/CFYR’s focus risk factors that they are now ate progress, and all seven phases are countries. Violence prevention ex- below the minimum risk thresh- repeated for a treatment cycle of one perts cite this approach as the most old for problem and delinquent year. appropriate method to reduce high behavior. rates of violence among those most Family Matters is based on the Preven- Beneficiary families note a range of likely to commit acts of violence. As a tion and Intervention Family Systems positive changes, including healthier result, the positive changes achieved Model (PIFSM), which along with the family dynamics, better communica- among the 7231 beneficiaries of Family Y-SET, was developed for the City tion, and respect for the family unit, Matters, who all live in these high-risk of Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and as well as improvements in youth areas, are expected to have a signifi- Youth Development Office in partner- relative to anger control, willingness cant impact on breaking wider, endem- ship with the University of Southern to help around the house, and efforts ic cycles of violence. Sustainability – Handing Over RISK FACTORS % Reduction after 12 months of treatment* to Local Government Partners 1. Antisocial Behaviors -54% USAID/CFYR works closely with gov- 2. Critical Life Events -35% ernment partners in each country to 3. Impulsive Risk Taking -42% implement Family Matters. By Octo- 4. Guilt Neutralization -34% ber 2020, the Governments of Guy- 5. Negative Peer Influence -21% ana and St. Kitts and Nevis will take full responsibility for Family Matters, 6. Peer Delinquency -28% including the USAID/CFYR-trained 7. Family Anti-Social Behavior -23% family counselors, supervisors, and all 8. Self-reported Delinquency -39% supporting systems. The Government 9. Weak Parental Supervision -29% of St. Lucia plans to incorporate Family *Average across USAID/CFYR’s focus countries: Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and Guyana Matters’ family-centric approach into its violence prevention programs.

1 Includes 227 beneficiary youth + family members, calculated based on average family size in each country.