Class Length: 5 weekly, 2-hour sessions
Languages: English & Spanish
Location: Instructors present the classes at your site!
Channing-Bete Company

Guiding Good Choices (GGC) empowers parents of children ages 9 to 14 to reduce the risks their children will abuse drugs and alcohol or develop other common adolescent problems. GGC teaches parents how to reduce critical risk factors (e.g., clear standards for behavior) that are especially important during the late elementary and middle school years.

The GGC program has been used for fourteen years by more than 200,000 suburban and rural families in 30 states and Canada. It is best implemented before children begin to experiment with alcohol or other drugs! A series of 5 two-hour classes, parents learn under the guidance and support of a certified parent educator from Protect-A-Child-Today!

1. Getting Started: Preventing Drug Abuse and Other Problem Behavior
2. Setting Clear Family Expectations for Behavior
3. Avoiding Trouble
4. Managing Family Conflict
5. Strengthening Family Bonds

How effective is the program?
Evaluation studies provide evidence the GGC is appropriate for general and diverse populations. The research also demonstrates:

• Reduce alcohol and marijuana use by 40.6%
• Reduce progression to more serious substance abuse by 54%
• Increase the likelihood that nonusers will remain drug-free by 26%
• Parents participating in the program are more likely to implement family meetings and emotionally bond with their children

What professionals say:
"It's magic to watch what happens with parents as they experience Preparing for the Drug Free Years. It's not just about drug-free, but also sex-free, violence-free. Anyone who interacts and wishes to bond with kids can use this program. I honestly believe it should be in the hands of every parent in America."
- Karen Williams, Parent Education Coordinator, Rainbow Days, Inc., Dallas, TX

Rated Exemplary 1 (the highest possible rating) by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Rated Model Program (the highest possible rating) by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention