PO - Empower & Strengthen Parents

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Go to Potential Measures and Data Sources


Examples of a Description for this Objective

Parents have a major role in increasing the protective factors that reduce substance misuse among yout (Get research citation).  But, parenting is hard--especially if a person didn't have good role models growing up.  Communities can help to empower and strengthen parents in a variety of ways.  There are excellent resources that can be distributed, and there are free or very low-cost online parenting programs for people in different situations or with different preferences.  A community coalition can work to provide these training courses and resources to many parents who might otherwise not access them.   </div>

Examples of a From-To Gap

Current State Desired State
Many tools and resources have been developed for parents that could be shared in a cost-effective manner to many other parents, but many parents who could benefit from these tools and resources are not aware of them or lack access to them. Community organizations work together to help improve the awareness of and access to resources and tools that help parents have a positive influence on reducing risk factors or enhancing recovery.
Faith groups do not host parenting workshops or classes for members of their congregation. Many faith groups in the community are hosting parenting workshops and classes for their members and non-members, including talking your kids about drugs.
No restaurants distribute takeout containers with sticker prompts for parents to talk to kids. Multiple restaurants are promoting conversations abut drugs to parents with teens with takeout container stickers,
Either stigma or an unrealistic belief that “my kids would never do that” keeps parents from learning how to better influence their kids with regard to prescription drug or other substance misuse. Every parent understands that everyone’s kids are at risk in this crisis, and there is encouragement, not stigma, in parents striving to improve how they help their kids—regardless of their situation.
Parents find it difficult to have productive discussions on topics related to prescription drug, opioid or other substance abuse. There are many creative ideas, tools, Websites, and campaigns that support parents in having valuable and helpful conversations regarding prescription drug or other substance misuse.
Parents who have a child struggling with Opioid Use Disorder feel isolated, ashamed, and helpless. Parents who have a child struggling with Opioid Use Disorder are connected with peers in similar situation and supported with appropriate materials and training to best help their children.
Parents often get prescriptions for highly-addictive pain medications filled (or refilled) without considering the risks for their child. Parents are a well-informed and added layer of defense against opioid misuse. Even if a doctor, dentist or oral surgeon prescribes (or is about to prescribe) and opioid painkiller, the parent is informed enough about the risks to potentially intervene and suggest they explore other paths. A parent may know, for example, that a child is struggling with depression or is dealing with trauma, or has other risk factors to begin to misuse a substance that a doctor may not ask about.
A wide range of technologies, from Websites and videos to Virtual Reality, have the potential of making excellent training and support resources for parents very low cost, but these opportunities are not sufficiently taken advantage of to support more parents Communities (and national organizations) take advantage of the potential to scale up good resources at a very low cost to get better tools to a greater number of parents.
There is often limited information on which resources are most effective in which situations, so parents or organizations don’t know which tools to promote or provide. As tools and resources are used, and as new tools and ideas are developed, information is collected and evaluated to continuously build and share the knowledge of what tools are most effective in which circumstances.