Guiding Good Choices

Parenting Tweens and Teens: It's Tough and Important

 But you don't have to go it alone!

 

What Is Guiding Good Choices?

Guiding Good Choices is a five-part workshop for parents or caregivers of children ages 9-14 years. The program promotes healthy youth development, which may help prevent teen alcohol, tobacco and drug use by helping parents gain the skills they need to: 

• build family bonds
• establish and reinforce clear and consistent guidelines and expectations for behavior
• teach children skills to resist peer influence
• improve family management practices
• reduce family conflict

What Topics Are Covered?

The Guiding Good Choices sessions are led facilitators who have been fully trained and certified. The five sessions included:

• Getting Started:  How to Prevent Drug Abuse in Your Family
• Setting Guidelines:  How to Develop Healthy Beliefs and Clear Standards
• Avoiding Trouble:  How to Say No (children attend this session with their parents)
• Managing Conflict:  How to Control and Express Anger
• Involving Everyone:  How to Stregthen Family Bonds

But, Does It Help?

Guiding Good Choices is based on years of research and is proven to:

• Improve parenting skills and parent-child interactions.
• Reduce adolescent substance abuse
• Reduce symptoms of depression in teens.
• reduce the rate of self-harm by teens.

And, national studies have shown that when parents participate their teens have 40% lower rates of alcohol and marijuana use; are 54% less likely to progress to more serious substance abuse; and, have a 26% greater likelihood of remaining drug-free if not already using.

For more information on upcoming workshops please contact one of the following people:

Alan Kazarian, Guidance Director Falmouth Public Schools

tel: 508.540.2200 ext 4047   email: akazarian@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Lee Burwell, LMHC Community Health Center of Cape Cod

tel: 508.759.7971   email: lburwell@chcofcapecod.org

Sharon Sodekson, Coordinator Falmouth Prevention Partnership

 tel: 508.540.2317   email: ssodekson@falmouthhumanservices.org

There is a $20.00 fee to cover materials. However, no one will be turned for the inability to pay. And, since life with children can be busy, the program includes FREE onsite childcare.