Parent program helps children say no

Kathleen Di Simone How do you help your child say no to illegal substances? According to the Guiding Good Choices Workshop Series, there are several answers. Parents can get those answers by attending the series hosted by Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP), a coalition under the Somerville Health Department. The five-week program, which begins on October 15, was started four years ago for parents of pre-teens and teens. It offers strategies for students to resist peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol. "What the program focuses on is helping parents to strengthen family bonds and help children develop healthy behavior and increase involvement in the family, which can sometimes break down in those adolescent years," said Lovelee Heller, SCAP Community Organizer. According to Heller, the series' past success has been substantial. "The children who have participated in the program, they've been really excited," said Heller. "They feel like they've been empowered...that they're not afraid." One significant focal point of the program discusses how to say no to peers without excluding oneself from social relationships. Heller explained that this has particularly impacted adolescents' response to the program. "[We're] trying to help [children] maintain their friendships. They feel proud that they could say no...and do it in a way that they're not pushing away their friends.," Heller said. But increasing enrollment in the program can be a challenge, explained Heller. She said that getting parents to commit to a five-week program is not easy. So as an incentive, $50 gift cards are now being offered to participating parents. According to Heller, this is not the only method the program organizers use to keep parents involved. "We really work to get what [parent's] schedules are like and tailor the program to fit the times they're available," Heller said. "We try to work with parents as much as we possibly can." Heller said that time is often a key issue throughout the program. After considering evaluation forms that are filled out after each course, it was decided that more time was needed in between sessions for parents to carry out certain tips, such as holding family meetings or engaging in family activities. As Heller sees it, paying such attention to interaction with participants is what makes the program so beneficial. "It's really an engaging program. It's not sort of just staring at a screen or talking at parents," Heller explained. "They engage the whole time with role play and discussion between parents and as a large group....It's lots of fun." The five-week course is available in both Spanish and English. It is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Systems Administration and through the City of Somerville. The program is free of charge to residents. Those interested in attending can contact Lovelee Heller by calling 625-6600, extension 4322, or emailing [email protected].