What You Can Do!
As a Parent:
- Talk with your own kids about the dangers of substance abuse.
- In times of crisis, use community programs for emergency support.
- Participate in programs that help you improve your parenting and family management skills.
As a Member of the Community
- Join in community efforts. Attend planning meetings.
- Make substance abuse prevention among children and adolescents a high priority in the community.
- Focus on families with young school-aged children.
- Speak up. Ask questions. Express your concerns. Share ideas and problems.
- Sign up. Put your name on the line. Let program organizers know about your special interests and talents. There are many ways you can help. For example:
- Help gather information to identify the problems faced by local families and the community.
- Make sure all cultural groups in your community are included in prevention efforts.
- As practitioners plan intervention programs, make sure they really listen to parents' goals and expectations.
- Identify and take action on obstacles that might prevent parents and children from participating.
- Serve as support staff and community trainers.
- Set up and publicize incentives for participation in family-centered prevention efforts, such as free transportation and child care, snacks or meals, "graduation" gifts, and parties or family outings.
- Participate in the programs you help develop. After graduating from a program, contact dropouts, and help motivate others to participate.
The more you and other families are involved in planning and decisionmaking, the more likely programs in your community are to protect children from drug use.
Success is Possible.
Be Part of It!
Last Updated: March 4, 2002
