This program is for parents of children who are 9 to 14 years old and their children.

Guiding Good Choices® (GGC), previously called Preparing for the Drug Free Years, a community-based family competency training program, is designed to strengthen protective parent–child interactions and reduce the risk for early substance use among youth.

Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted on GGC by the program developers. A pilot study found program effects on specific parenting skills, general child-management skills, and parent-child affective relationships. Effects were also found for mothers and fathers on outcomes related to communication, relationship quality, and negative interactions. Additional effects were found for mothers related to discipline and conflict towards spouse. In addition to effects on parenting, the second study also found that children of parents who participated in the program demonstrated better outcomes on substance-use related variables. Up to 2-years post intervention, substance-use initiation and movement towards more advanced substance use was slower in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Benefits were found related to alcohol and marijuana use up to 4-years post intervention. At 10-years post intervention, beneficial program effects were found on problem substance use, alcohol use disorders (i.e., women only), and risky sexual behavior. Program effects on tobacco use have not been located.

GGC session topics are as follows:

• Getting Started: How to Promote Health and Wellbeing During the Teen Years - Understand the extent of substance abuse among youth, and determine how to address and prevent drug use in the participant's home;
• Setting Guidelines: How to Develop Health Beliefs and Clear Standards - Identify and set rules and expectations for youth behavior;
• Managing Conflict: How to Deal with Your Anger in a Positive Way - Consider how to manage conflict in the family while maintaining healthy parent-child relationships;
• Avoiding Trouble: How to Say No, Keep Your Friends, and Still Have Fun (for children and parents) - Learn refusal skills while keeping friends and having fun; and
• Involving Everyone: How to Strengthen Family Bonds - Discover methods for enhancing family bonds and involving youth in family activities; determine how to develop a support network for parents.

The GGC curriculum is an interactive, multimedia curriculum that uses videos, role-play, guided discussion groups, and at-home practice activities.

A 6-session virtual GGC program is also available.

Since 1987, GGC has been delivered to over 300,000 families in urban, rural, and suburban communities in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

This program is facilitated by trained Parent Workshop Leaders. Please use details in the Contact section for more information.

Considerations for implementing this program include understanding program facilitators should be teachers, parent educators, and individuals who are comfortable directing program sessions; recognizing that only one session a week should be implemented to allow parents enough time to practice the skills learned in each session; and providing dinner, child care, and transportation to families to increase program participation.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing GGC, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

The GGC program is implemented in 5- to 6-weekly, 2-hour sessions.

The GGC curriculum can be licensed from the University of Washington as either a 1-year or a 3-year membership subscription for one or more people (discounts are available for larger groups). The cost of a 1-year membership subscription is $240 per user. The cost of a 3-year membership subscription is $500 per user. The cost of a Workshop Leader Guide is $240 each. Please visit https://els2.comotion.uw.edu/product/guiding-good-choices-ggc, or use details in the Contact section for more information.

To move GGC to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least two additional evaluations must be performed. These evaluations must have a sample that adequately represents the target audience, and one must be conducted independently of the developer.

The Clearinghouse can help you to develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185     Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact University of Washington, Center for Communities That Care by mail 9725 3rd Avenue NE, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98115, phone 1-206-685-7723, or visit https://www.communitiesthatcare.net/contact/

https://www.communitiesthatcare.net/programs/ggc/ and https://www.blueprintsprograms.org/programs/guiding-good-choices/