PowerTalk 21 Day

Last week, parents around the country started the conversation on PowerTalk 21™ day—the national day to talk about kids an alcohol. MADD hosted national events in Dallas, New York and San Diego as well as local events in cities and towns across the country. Congress made it official by passing a resolution deeming April 21 as PowerTalk 21 day.

I have a 20-year-old daughter of my own, and I know how hard this topic can be. Kids don’t come with instruction manuals. That’s why MADD developed the Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence™ handbook. It provides valuable insights into teens and tips on communicating about a tough topic in a way that can reduce your child’s risk of drinking by up to 30 percent. I’ve used it myself and trust me…it’s worth downloading (which you can do here).

We’re also providing free parent workshops in cities across the country. I was lucky enough to host one in San Diego. The feedback was unanimously positive. Parents appreciated the help tackling this difficult topic. Click here to see if there is an upcoming workshop in your area.

If you missed PowerTalk 21 day, don’t worry. This can’t be a one time conversation. Parents need to talk about this important topic with their kids early and often. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood echoed these sentiments in his blog, reminding parents that “every day is a good day for starting that discussion.”

Check out some of our pictures from events across the country and mark your calendar for next year’s PowerTalk 21 on April 21, 2012! In the meantime, keep talking …

PowerTalk 21 is Today!

Today is the day...the day to start talking to your teens if you haven't already. Communities across the country are rallying to keep our teens safe from the drug that kills more youth than all other drugs combined--alcohol.

Raising a teen isn't easy and they don't come with instruction manuals. That's why MADD teamed up with Dr. Robert Turrisi of Penn State Univ to create the Power of Parents, It's Your Influence handbook. This handbook is easy to use and includes proven techniques to improve communications between parents and their teens, often resulting in a 30% reduction in underage drinking.

You can find a FREE 30 minute workshop in your area where you can attend and get started with the handbook. If there is not a workshop in your area, you can download the handbook at madd.org/powerofparents.

Thanks to Nationwide Insurance, our wonderful Presenting Sponsor, and the GM Foundation, our supporting sponsor, we are able to offer these tools at no charge. So, why not give it a try? You'll find the tips to talk (and listen) to your teens helpful...I know I sure did!

PowerTalk 21...it's time to talk!

Parents, do you really want to know about your teens college atmosphere?

Want to know the top school for a "No Last Call" or "Walk of Shame?" Unigo.com has a list that they claim represents actual students opinions on what is happening on their campuses. No doubt, a lot of underage, illegal drinking happens on many college campuses. This list shows you the worst of the worst for partying.

This is just another reminder that we (yes, me included) need to continue to talk to our college students about the dangers of underage drinking. It's fall...well not here in sweltering Texas...and it's time to have those talks again. You can do it!

Why giving alcohol to kids is such a bad idea

Just found this series of articles from Minnesota that clearly lay out why providing alcohol to minors is such a bad idea. Check it out at:
http://www.udetc.org/documents/judicial/0710eNews/BadIdea.pdf

Parents are Important: Check out new study

Another study confirming the importance of parents in teens making decisions about drinking alcohol. MADD's resources support parents in their roles to keep teens alcohol free.

Taking Time For Dad

Father's Day is this weekend and we can think of so many things dads are great at including: playing, teaching perseverence, helping with sports, and leading families. They protect us, we should help protect them too. Reminding them to designate a sober driver before celebrating, or offering to drive them home. Also, there are many dads who have lost loved ones or even children, due to drunk driving. We encourage them to call MADD's trained victim advocates at 1-877-MADD-HELP. We are here every day, all day and all night. Remember to let your dad know how much you care about him.

The Univited Guest that Still Shows Up

They did what they were suppose to do. They uninvited alcohol and drugs to their daughter's graduation party but alcohol still showed up. Now, the parents are charged with hosting an underage drinking party versus a really, cool graduation party full of happy memories. Parents can start early and often talking to teens about alcohol but as the saying goes, "I'm not so worried about you, but I am worried about others," still holds true here. They thought they covered all bases and communicated no alcohol but it still showed up at their home. Do bouncers with breath test devices have to be hired to monitor and control graduation parties and other underage gatherings celebrating the end of a school year? I'm not sure where you find that in the yellow pages...maybe where you found clowns, makeup artists and bounce houses when they were little.