Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk) has launched a free program on drug use prevention for parents of children aged 9 to 14.
The program, titled “Guiding Good Choices,” is administered by the CCE Suffolk Community Education Program. It aims to equip parents with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate challenges faced by teens and preteens, and to foster healthy, drug-free behaviors in their children.
The initiative is funded by Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Opioid Task Force,
Participating parents will attend a series of five sessions. Each session is one-and-a-half hours long and is devoted to a single topic. The five topics are:
- Getting started: How to promote health and well-being during the teen years – Strategies for promoting overall health and well-being in teenage children.
- Setting guidelines: How to develop healthy beliefs and clear standards – Techniques for establishing family guidelines and expectations to foster healthy behaviors.
- Managing conflict: How to deal with anger in a positive way – Approaches for managing family conflicts in ways that strengthen relationships and maintain bonds.
- Avoiding trouble: How to say no, keep your friends, and still have fun – Practical skills for children and parents to navigate peer pressure, maintain friendships, and have fun without succumbing to substance use.
- Involving everyone! How to strengthen family bonds – Methods for enhancing family connections and creating a supportive parent network.
“Guiding Good Choices” was developed by J. David Hawkins and Richard Catalano, faculty members at the University of Washington School of Social Work in Seattle. The program has been successfully delivered to families across the United States in school, community, and healthcare settings.
According to the University of Washington School of Social Work, “Guiding Good Choices” has demonstrated significant, positive outcomes in previous implementations, including:
- Reducing rates of initiation for alcohol and marijuana use.
- Decreasing by 54 percent the likelihood that experimental users will progress to heavier use.
- Increasing by 26 percent the likelihood that non-users will remain drug-free.
- Reducing the likelihood of delinquent behavior.
- Significantly slowing the rate of multiple substance abuse.
“I thank Cornell Cooperative Extension for their efforts in providing new solutions and programs to combat drug use in our young children,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “Education must begin early, and by engaging children in these critical years could eventually save lives.”
“It’s important that we as parents learn the important strategies to communicate and promote good health and mental well-being, so our children make good decisions during the most critical time in their physical and mental development,” said Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey. “Thank you to Cornell Cooperative Extension for offering a successful, proven program that teaches the practical skills to combat the challenges facing our families here in Suffolk County.”
“Having previously been employed at a rehabilitation facility working with individuals with substance abuse issues, I have first-hand awareness of the value of drug prevention programs,” said Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy. “I’m delighted that Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Suffolk County Opioid Task Force are joining forces to educate parents on this critical topic.”
“As a representative of a diverse community, I understand how essential it is to provide families with the tools they need to support their children’s healthy development,” said Suffolk County Legislator Samuel Gonzalez. “This program will empower parents across Suffolk County to foster positive choices and keep our young people on a path to success.”
“’Guiding Good Choices’ has proven to create significant and lasting improvements in parenting skills and parent-child relationships,” said Cara Sultan, Parent Educator with CCE Suffolk’s Community Education Program. “By emphasizing the importance of strong family bonds, the program helps preteens adhere to family guidelines, encourages healthy behavior standards, and protects them from developing health and behavior problems.”
A list of currently scheduled sessions appears below. CCE Suffolk plans to schedule additional, future sessions.
In addition, agencies, organizations, libraries, schools or other suitable entities can arrange to bring “Guiding Good Choices” to their own venue – at no cost – and schedule a program specifically for them.
Presently available sessions include:
Via Zoom (English)
Monday, September 30: 10:00-11:30 am
Monday, October 7: 10:00-11:30 am
Monday, October 21: 10:00-11:30 am
Monday, October 28: 6:30-8:00 pm
Monday, November 4, 10:00-11:30 am
Register here: https://rebrand.ly/CCE-1
Via Zoom (Spanish)
Tuesday, September 24: 6:00-7:30 pm
Tuesday, October 1: 6:00-7:30 pm
Tuesday, October 8: 6:00-7:30 pm
Tuesday, October 15: 6:00-7:30 pm
Tuesday, October 22: 6:00-7:30 pm
Register here: https://rebrand.ly/CCE-ESP
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 500,000 individuals died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids, between 1999 and 2019. In 2020, 68,000 Americans died as the result of an opioid overdose, 8.5 times the number of opioid-involved overdose deaths in 1999.
For additional details, contact Cara W. Sultan, CCE Suffolk Parent Educator, at caw10@cornell.edu or 631-727-7850 x 339.
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