Coalition partnerships key to success of Guiding Good Choices

"When it comes to preventing drug and alcohol abuse, there is no one-fits-all approach. It takes solutions that are based on a community's unique problems and circumstances," states CADCA's website. The Prevention WINS coalition is based on this premise: that drug and alcohol problems are different in every community and, therefore, need to be addressed differently in each community by the community.

The implementation of Guiding Good Choices in northeast Seattle is a perfect example of how effective communities can be when we come together. Four years ago, Prevention WINS identified a lack of parental monitoring of teenage children as a factor contributing to underage drinking in northeast Seattle. Using local data as a guide, the coalition chose to implement Guiding Good Choices (GGC), an evidence-based parenting curriculum, to address the needs of our community.

Since then, three organizations have done a great job at offering GGC to parents: Children's Hospital, the University Family YMCA, and Seattle Public Schools. They are a perfect example of what coalition work is really about -- community members coming together and each taking on a role to prevent underage drinking and youth substance use.

Free parenting workshops at Children's Hospital

A series of Guiding Good Choices parenting workshops will take place at Seattle Children's Hospital:

November 16, 23, 30, December 7 & 14

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

To register, contact Kelly Kerby at Children's Hospital at 987-1359.

This is the last year of the grant that allows us to provide Guiding Good Choices (GGC) for free in northeast Seattle. Take advantage of this opportunity to help your children remain drug and alcohol free. GGC is an evidence-based underage drinking and substance abuse prevention program for parents of students in grades 4-8.

Spaces still available in free parenting workshops

The October Guiding Good Choices parenting workshops in northeast Seattle still have spaces available for parents/guardians. Here is information about these free workshops:

October 6, 13, 20, 27 & November 3 at the University Family YMCA

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

FREE DINNER & CHILDCARE INCLUDED!

To register, contact Lisa Steenson at the YMCA at 524-1400.

October 8, 15, 22, 29 & November 5 at Eckstein Middle School

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

To register, contact Reema Ziadeh at Eckstein at 252-5010.

Funding for Guiding Good Choices runs out in June 2010 so take advantage of these evidence-based workshops now!

What families can do

Eckstein Middle School hosted an event for their 8th grade families Tuesday evening. The purpose was to increase awareness about underage drinking and substance abuse that can start the last year a student attends middle school and the first year of high school.

Kevin Haggerty, Assistant Director of the University of Washington Social Development Research Group, gave an engaging presentation about what families can do to prevent underage drinking and substance abuse.

Eckstein Principal Kim Whitworth and I provided information about NE Seattle statistics.

Guiding Good Choices is one way parents and guardians can learn about how they can prevent underage drinking and substance abuse among their children. The Prevention WINS coalition is offering free Guiding Good Choices workshops in NE Seattle.

Guiding Good Choices workshops added!

On May 27, I posted information about Guiding Good Choices workshops to be offered this fall at Children's Hospital and the University Family YMCA. Another series of Guiding Good Choices has been added:

Eckstein Middle School
Five Thursday evenings, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
October 8 - November 5, 2009.

After the 2009-10 school year these workshops will no longer be offered for free (our grant ends). Parents are encouraged to sign up ASAP for the workshops of their choice -- space is limited and workshops fill up quickly.

For information on how to register, visit the calendar of events page on the coalition's website.

Guiding Good Choices workshops starting up again in the fall

At the University Family YMCA
Five Tuesdays: October 6 - November 3, 2009
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Free dinner & childcare available!

At Seattle Children's Hospital

Five Wednesdays: October 14 - November 11, 2009

6:15 - 8:15 p.m.

Visit the coalition's website for more information.

Strong family bonds prevent underage drinking

Teenagers who have a strong relationship with their parents may start drinking at a later age -- which may, in turn, lessen their risk of developing alcohol problems, a new study suggests. The findings, published in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, underscore the important role parents play in the risk of problem drinking.

For the purposes of the study, a high quality relationship was one where teenagers felt they could discuss their problems with their parents and that their parents respected their feelings.

Guiding Good Choices provides parents with tools to create and sustain strong bonds with their children. The coalition will be offering more Guiding Good Choices workshops in the fall -- check this blog later this summer to view a fall schedule.

Raising healthy teenagers

The current edition of the Journal Newspapers contains a cover story that is about "Raising healthy teenagers". It includes information from the coalition's March 23 parenting forum, Keeping Track of Teens:

Here’s some good news: Kids today report feeling more connected to their parents than those in the last few generations. According to J. David Hawkins, PhD, of the University of Washington Social Development Research Group and developer of Guiding Good Choices, parents have a much greater influence on their kids than they think.

“All the research shows that parents really do continue to be a very influential force in kids’ lives all the way through to college,” said Hawkins, who spoke at a March 23 parenting forum called “Keeping Track of Teens” at Eckstein Middle School in North Seattle. He encouraged parents to set clear guidelines about things like underage drinking and make those known to your kids.

His Guiding Good Choices curriculum teaches parents the importance of forming strong bonds with their kids by interacting with them on a regular basis, setting clear standards, providing the opportunities and skills to be successful, and recognizing efforts for improvement and achievement.

“[Our kids] will feel emotionally attached and connected to us, which creates the motivation to live by the standards set by our family,” explained Hawkins. “It’s important to keep the bonds strong.”

Carolyn Bernhard is the co-chair of a coalition of parents and community members in Northeast Seattle called Prevention Works in Seattle. The coalition hosted the recent parenting forum at Eckstein, where Bernhard’s 14-year-old daughter attends school. She saw how much a part of the high school culture alcohol was when her 21-year-old daughter was that age. “I’ve been involved [in the coalition] from the beginning. It gave me a way to try to change that culture,” she said.

The emphasis is on the middle school years. “If we can get parents and kids to understand the benefits of not drinking, we can make a difference at the high school and college level,” she said. “With the work we’re doing in middle school, my hope is that there will be a core group of kids who get to high school and choose not to drink, and still be cool.”

Keeping Track of Teens

Last night, parents packed the Eckstein Middle School library to hear David Hawkins from the UW Social Development Research Group (SDRG) and Ruth Herold from Changes Parent Support Network talk about "Keeping Track of Teens".

Dr. Hawkins encouraged parents to take advantage of the free Guiding Good Choices workshops being offered by the Prevention WINS coalition in northeast Seattle. The SPF-SIG grant that covers the cost of these workshops ends in September 2010, so time is running out for parents who want to take the workshops for free!

The SDRG website contains links to many presentations given by Dr. Hawkins and his colleagues at SDRG, especially Richard Catalano. One of the presentations, Good Parenting IS Prevention, is mainly about Guiding Good Choices.

David Hawkins and Ruth Herold answer questions from parents.

Keeping track of teens

Prevention WINS is hosting a free forum for parents and guardians --

Keeping Track of Teens
Monday, March 23, 2009
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Eckstein Middle School
3003 NE 75th Street in Seattle

Speakers:

-- J. David Hawkins, PhD, from the University of Washington's Social Development Research Group and developer of Guiding Good Choices

-- Ruth Herold, Executive Director of Changes Parent Support Network

The speakers will be followed by small group discussions, enabling parents/guardians to share tips and experiences about monitoring their children.

Free Guiding Good Choices!

Parents still have time to register for upcoming series of Guiding Good Choices workshops being offered for free, for a limited time! The dates and places the workshops will take place are:

starting February 4 at Seattle Children's Hospital and

starting February 26 at Eckstein Middle School.

Detailed information is available by clicking here.