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Involving Students and Parents in Prevention
What parents do and say counts
This program has stressed the importance
of having many messengers giving the same no-use message to young people. As school
activity staff members, you can use your influence to motivate parents and students to
become prevention allies.
This strategy is well supported by
research. Over the past few years, studies have repeatedly reinforced the strength of
parental and peer influence.
Prevention
research has consistently shown that one of the strongest correlates of low or nonuse of
tobacco, alcohol or other drugs is perception of parental concer: those young people who
perceive that their parents would be upset if they used tobacco, alcohol or other drugs
are less likely than their peers to use. This variable holds true over time: eighth graders who believe that their parents would be concerned are less
likely to use; so are high school seniors.
As school activity staff members, you can convey this information to
parents, and encourage them to continue to uphold non-use standards until their children
are adults.
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Rationale
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Peers: A source of information and help
Peers also play highly significant roles
in the choices young people make. Research has shown that young people tend to use
tobacco, alcohol or other drugs in much the same way as their friends. It has also been
demonstrated that a young person will most likely turn to his/her friends for help.
School activity
participants can be healthy role models for their peers
By providing accurate information and
training for school activity participants, we can boost the chances that the information a
young person receives from his or her friends will be beneficial. And by strengthening
team/group members' commitment to non-use of tobacco alcohol or other drugs, you can help
create more positive peer role models.
Pre-season meetings
Communities throughout the country have
found that pre-season meetings are an unparalleled means of reaching large numbers of
parents with information about their role in preventing tobacco, alcohol, and other drug
use problems.
Pre-season
meetings will allow everyone involved in school activities to openly discuss a variety of
issues, including tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use. Through pre-season meetings,
parents and students can get the information they need about school activities and talk
about rules and expectations. Pre-season meetings are also a time for all three groups --
parents, students, and coaches -- to talk about positive prevention activities.
For athletes, pre-season meetings can also be a time to discuss ways to achieve personal goals through a program of proper nutrition, excercise and strength training. With accurate information and support, parents and athletes can become advocates for healthy life-styles.
Philosophy of the Pre-Season Meeting
Sample Agenda for General Information Meeting
Sample Agenda for Individual Sport or Activity Meeting
Sample Press Release for Pre-Season Meeting
Parents, Athletes, Coaches/Advisors Workshop Handout and Discussion
Materials
Involving Students and Parents in Prevention
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