Module 1: Introduction

Objectives

• Understand the mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, specifically the Parenting IS Prevention Initiative.
• Understand the goal and agenda for this workshop.
• Start to develop an understanding of the heterogeneity of parenting patterns.

Components

Visuals and handouts:

HO:1-1 Secretary's Initiative for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention
 

Other materials needed:
easels, newsprint, magic markers, masking tape, overhead projector and screen
 

A.     Introductions

• Welcome

(Facilitation Note: You may want to invite a special guest to welcome participants.  This person may be your SSA Director, State Prevention Director, or Organization President.)

• Share with the participants who you are, where you come from, and your experience in prevention and parenting.

Introduce trainers and have each say something about themselves.

Then go around the room and have each participant give their name and where they live.

(Facilitation Note: Acknowledge that many participants are experienced trainers, have years of prevention experience, and experience in parenting education of many different types.  Most of us are parents and some of us are grandparents.  Ask if there are any great-grandparents in the room.)

• Explain that we will explore the idea of parenting and our experience with it in the next few days in a variety of ways, starting with a little exercise called Parenting in the 1990s.  This exercise will help us get to know each other a bit better.

B.     Purpose of TOT Parenting IS Prevention Overview (10 minutes)

Explain the CSAP Parenting IS Prevention Initiative by reviewing the background handout, Secretary's Initiative for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention, very briefly.

Drop and discuss V:1-1 Goal of Secretary's Initiative on Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

Explain that this workshop is part of the Secretary's Initiative program.

Drop and discuss V:1-2 Goal of Parenting IS Prevention Workshop

Review briefly the goal of this part of the Parenting IS Prevention.  Then, explain that, based upon a situational analysis including several focus groups and a series of telephone interviews, the following are the specific themes we will cover in the training session.

Note:  This explanation is important.  Explain up-front that we are training people to mobilize parents to organize a comprehensive parenting program with many strategies, not teaching a "kit".  See Goal V:1-2.

Drop and discuss V:1-3 Parenting IS Prevention Themes

Drop and discuss V:1-4 Target Audience

Emphasize that the PIP is an ongoing process.  CSAP expects that people who attend the workshops will return home to actively promote parent education programs and mobilize support for them.

Note:  Again emphasize that we are targeting parents who will organize & mobilize other parents to initiate & maintain comprehensive parenting programs.  See Goal
V:1-4.

Drop and discuss V:1-5 Deliverables
 

C.  Review of Agenda (5 minutes)

Note:  Place the agenda on newsprint on the wall before the day begins.  Or use the agenda printed in the front of the manual.

D.  Expectations (10 minutes)

Write these in newsprint and place on the wall.
 

E.  Norms (30 minutes)

Review the list and circle any items not agreed upon by the group. Then place the newsprint list on the wall.
 

F.  Exercise Parenting in the 1990s

Note: Post the years on newsprint.

Ask the participants to divide up into groups, one in each corner of the room:

• Group one:  people born before 1949
• Group two:  people born from 1949-1955
• Group three:  people born from 1956-1965
• Group four:  people born after 1965

They may use the following titles to help them remember specifics:

• relationships with the family
• grandparents
• meal times
• recreation
• vacations
• school and homework
• discipline
• values

Conclude by noting that every generation's experience has some similarities and some differences, but that the differences within each group are just as great as the differences between groups.  Every family is different, and we will continue to stress that theme throughout the rest of the workshop.

Explain that we will take a short break and then reconvene to talk about the research on how families influence their children's substance abuse use.

Note:  Continue to emphasize throughout the workshop that there are many differences among families and between families.

Break (15 minutes)