The Coalition for Orcas Youth and Funhouse Commons invite families to attend Guiding Good Choices, a parenting workshop this October. The 6-week series is for families and caregivers with children from 9-17 years old. It will be hosted via zoom and facilitated by local instructors trained in the evidence-based program from the University of Washington.

The program draws on extensive research demonstrating the critical importance of bonding in reducing adolescent substance abuse and peer pressure. The Guiding Good Choices program was developed by J. David Hawkins, Ph.D., and Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D. of the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington.

Guiding Good Choices is based on 30 years of prevention science to target ways for parents and caregivers to mitigate risks for substance use and other problem behaviors among children. Topics covered include building communications skills, developing healthy beliefs and clear standards, and expressing emotions constructively.

The fun, interactive two-hour sessions help to improve family communication and bonding. Practical methods are taught and modeled to reduce arguing and help avoid problem behaviors.

The program is part of the youth mental health promotion and substance-use prevention strategy, led by the Coalition for Orcas Youth, with support from The Funhouse and funding from the Health Care Authority of Washington. Sessions will be hosted in English and Spanish.

To register for the English session, contact Sarah Nichols, the Program Coordinator at sarahnichols@thefunhouse.org. For more information about the Spanish-language program, contact Trillium Swanson at trillium@thefunhouse.org. To learn more about the Coalition for Orcas Youth, visit https://www.coalitionfororcasyouth.org.