Linking Families and Teens (LiFT)
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky.
The Linking Families and Teens (LiFT) program is a six-hour family connection workshop designed to improve sexual health outcomes for high school–age youth across the United States. The workshop is intended to increase the frequency and quality of communication about sexuality between teens and their supportive adults, enhance the relationship between teens and these adults, increase teens’ confidence about preventing unwanted pregnancy, increase supportive adults’ comfort with their youth receiving sexual health services, and decrease the number of unplanned teen pregnancies. After the workshops, participants can opt to receive 12 follow-up text messages that serve as reminders of the skills taught in LiFT and include conversation prompts and resources. Four weeks after the workshop, all supportive adults receive a booster call from a LiFT facilitator to reinforce concepts discussed during the workshop and provide any necessary resources.
LiFT was evaluated with rural youth and was designed to serve all youth ages 13 to 19. Each youth must participate with one or more adult parents or caregivers; the program calls them supportive adults.
The LiFT program can be implemented in urban, suburban, and rural communities of all sizes. It requires an implementation site where participants can be divided into two groups in different rooms, with one room large enough to accommodate all participants for group activities. Implementations have taken place in schools, community-based organizations, and other locations. The program was evaluated in high school settings and health clinics.
For curriculum, materials, and pricing information, please contact:
Free, downloadable versions of the LiFT curriculum, workbooks, and program guide are available in both English and Spanish at https://sparked.net/lift/.
For more information on curriculum, materials, and pricing information please contact: sparked@ppgnhaik.org.
For training and support, please contact: sparked@ppgnhaik.org.
For information on training or further support, please contact: sparked@ppgnhaik.org.
The LiFT program manual includes a participant feedback survey and pre- and post-test surveys. Facilitators may use the monitoring and evaluation tools provided in the LiFT Program Manual or create their own feedback surveys and pre- and post-tests.
Last updated in 2023
The data presented on this page reflects responses from the program’s developer or distributor to a program component checklist that asked them to report on the individual components within their TPP program. The same program component checklist was sent to the developer or distributor of every active TPP program with evidence of effectiveness. The program component table provides data on seven types of program components including content, delivery mechanism, dosage, staffing, format, environment, and intended population characteristics; whether the component was present or optional in the program; whether the component is considered to be core to the program; and the lesson number or activity where the component can be found in the program. For more details, refer to the FAQ.
| Category | Component | Core Component | Component present | Notes | Lesson number(s) / activities where present |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Graduating from high school | No | |||
| Content | Anatomy/physiology | No | |||
| Content | Other | ||||
| Content | Volunteering/civic engagement | No | |||
| Content | Spirituality | No | |||
| Content | Morals/values | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Together time Module 3; | |
| Content | Identity development | No | |||
| Content | Social support/capital | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Together time Module 2 pg. 30-31; | |
| Content | Social influence/actual vs. perceived social norms | No | |||
| Content | Parenting skills | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Adult Module 1 pg. 107-111; Adult Module 2 pg.125-135 | |
| Content | Normative beliefs | No | |||
| Content | Leadership | No | |||
| Content | Gender roles | No | |||
| Content | Gender identity | No | |||
| Content | Cultural values | No | |||
| Content | Connections with trusted adults | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Together Time modules 1-4; Youth Module 1: pages 53-59; Adult Module 1: pg. 107-111 | |
| Content | Conflict resolution/social problem solving | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth workbook pg. 22; Adult workbook pg. 24 | |
| Content | Communication skills | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth Module 1: pages 53-59; Adult Module 1: pg. 107-111 | |
| Content | Child development | No | |||
| Content | Boundary setting/refusal skills | No | Yes (evaluated version) | ||
| Content | Substance use cessation | No | |||
| Content | Substance use - Other drugs | No | |||
| Content | Substance use - Alcohol | No | |||
| Content | Substance use - Abstinence | No | |||
| Content | Brain development and substance use | No | |||
| Content | Vocational/skills training | No | |||
| Content | Supplemental academic services | No | |||
| Content | School engagement | No | |||
| Content | College preparation | No | |||
| Content | Alternative schooling | No | |||
| Content | Self-regulation | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth workbook pg. 22; adult workbook pg. 24 | |
| Content | Self-esteem | No | |||
| Content | Self-efficacy/empowerment | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth Module 1 pages 55-67; Youth Module 2 pages 75-81; Adult Module 1 pages 107-111; Adult Module 2 pages 125-131 | |
| Content | Resilience | ||||
| Content | Personal vulnerability | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth Module 1 pages 64-66; Adult Module 1 pg. 103-104 & 109-111 | |
| Content | Sexual health | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth Module 2, curriculum manual, pages 78-81, 83-85;94-100 | |
| Content | STIs - Screening | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth Module 2, page 78,98; Youth workbook page 13,15 | |
| Content | STIs - Prevention | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth workbook page 11 | |
| Content | STIs - Information | No | |||
| Content | Sexual risk reduction | No | |||
| Content | Sexual risk discontinuation | No | |||
| Content | Sexual risk avoidance | No | |||
| Content | Sexual orientation | No | |||
| Content | Motivational interviewing | No | |||
| Content | Maternal health | No | |||
| Content | Contraception - Condoms | Yes | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth Module 2, curriculum manual, pages 75-77, 82-3, 86-93; Youth workbook pages 10-11; Adult workbook pages 30-31 | |
| Content | Contraception - Long-acting reversible contraceptives | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth workbook page 11; Adult workbook page 31 | |
| Content | Contraception - Other | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth workbook page 11; Adult workbook page 31 | |
| Content | Contraception - Pills, patches, rings, and shots | No | Yes (evaluated version) | Youth workbook page 11; Adult workbook page 31 | |
| Content | Reproduction | No |
LiFT’s goals are to increase the frequency and quality of communication about sexuality between teens and their supportive adults, enhance the relationship between teens and these adults, increase teens’ confidence about preventing unwanted pregnancy, increase supportive adults’ comfort with their youth receiving sexual health services, and decrease the number of unplanned teen pregnancies.
The LiFT workshop modules allow families time to connect with each other, gain skills to support effective discussions on tough topics in the future, teach youth new skills related to sexual health, and create space for supportive adults to connect. The program is guided by a Family Connection Framework and evidence-based best practices in sexual health education, including Positive Youth Development, Understanding By Design, and Adult Learning Theory.
LiFT is delivered using group discussions, brainstorming activities, skill practice, role-play, short lectures, pair-share, group work, and self-reflection.
LiFT primarily consists of a six-hour workshop (breaks and mealtime included) intended to provide families with time to connect with each other. The ideal group size for the workshop is 10 families, but facilitators may work with up to 20 families, each including one or more youth plus one or more supportive adults.
The workshop is divided into eight modules, four of which are for youth and adults (called Together Time); two are youth only, and two are adult only. The modules for youth and their supportive adults run concurrently. The youth- and adult-only modules include activities and allow each group to have open and honest conversations among themselves. Such open and honest conversations are also encouraged during the Together Times modules.
During the workshop, participants can opt to receive 12 follow-up text messages that serve as reminders of the skills taught in LiFT and include conversation prompts and resources. All supportive adults receive a booster call from a LiFT facilitator four weeks following the workshop date. These calls serve to reinforce concepts discussed during the workshop and provide any necessary resources.
The program is designed to be delivered by two trained co-facilitators who assume the roles of youth facilitator and adult facilitator. It is strongly recommended facilitators complete the LiFT training of facilitators (TOF).
Ideal facilitators are highly skilled sex educators familiar with local resources; reflect participants characteristics; are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) participants; and use trauma-informed practices. Six months before the workshop, facilitators should have read the program manual thoroughly and attended a LiFT TOF training. For more information on LiFT training, please contact sparked@ppgnhaik.org. Recommended training that supports highly skilled sex educators can be found at https://sparked.net/.
LiFT includes a program manual for facilitators and workbooks for participants. The LiFT program manual provides detailed information about prepping for implementation, including time frames and a checklist that facilitators start using six months before the workshop. The workshop requires workbooks for participants, pre-printed posters and other printed materials, and toy building blocks. It is strongly recommended that food be provided.
The workshop must be held in a location that has at least two separate spaces to allow teens and adults to break into separate groups, with one space large enough for all participants to work together at the same time.
To implement with fidelity, the entire six-hour workshop (all eight modules), text messaging, and the booster call must be completed. For more information on fidelity forms, please contact sparked@ppgnhaik.org.
For additional technical assistance and support with LiFT, please contact sparked@ppgnhaik.org. The LiFT program provides participants and professionals with national websites and hotlines for additional resources.
Facilitators are allowed to divide the six-hour workshop into two sessions instead of one. Facilitators are additionally encouraged to make any necessary adaptations based on group size or participant ability levels. An adaptation guide is included in the program manual.
| Citation | High-Quality Randomized Trial | Moderate-Quality Randomized Trial | Moderate-Quality Quasi-Experiment | Low Study Rating | Did Not Meet Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown, S.A., Turner, R.E., Christensen, C. (2021). Linking families and teens: Randomized controlled trial study of a family communication and sexual health education program for rural youth and their parents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.05.020 |
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| Citation | Setting | Majority Age Group | Majority Racial/Ethnic Group | Gender | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown, S.A., Turner, R.E., Christensen, C. (2021). Linking families and teens: Randomized controlled trial study of a family communication and sexual health education program for rural youth and their parents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.05.020 |
After school, Community-based organization, Rural | 14 to 17 | Hispanic or Latinx of any race | Youth of any gender | 886 |
Evidence by Outcome Domain and Study
| Citation | Sexual Activity | Number of Sexual Partners | Contraceptive Use | STIs or HIV | Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown, S.A., Turner, R.E., Christensen, C. (2021). Linking families and teens: Randomized controlled trial study of a family communication and sexual health education program for rural youth and their parents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.05.020 |
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| Citation | Details |
|---|---|
Brown, S.A., Turner, R.E., Christensen, C. (2021). Linking families and teens: Randomized controlled trial study of a family communication and sexual health education program for rural youth and their parents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(3), 398–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.05.020 |
Linking Families and Teens (LiFT) was evaluated using a cluster randomized controlled trial involving family dyads made up of a high-school-age youth paired with their parenting adult. The dyads were recruited from 21 rural community sites (such as schools and health care locations) across nine states. Participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that received the six-hour LiFT program or to a control group that did not receive a program. Surveys were administered before the program (baseline), three months after the program ended, and 12 months after the program ended. |