Guiding Good Choices | Center for Native Child and Family Resilience

Summary

Guiding Good Choices® is a multimedia family competency training program that uses a social development model to promote healthy, protective parent-child interactions and reduces risk for early substance use among families of middle school children (ages 9-14) of all races/ethnicities.

Program Description

"Guiding Good Choices® (GGC) is a multimedia family competency training program that promotes healthy, protective parent-child interactions and reduces risk for early substance use. This universal prevention program targets families of middle school children (ages 9-14) of all races/ethnicities. The program is based on a social development model, which holds that strong bonding to positive influences reduces problem behaviors. The program is delivered in five weekly sessions designed to strengthen parents' child-rearing techniques, parent-child bonding, and children's peer resistance skills. Children attend one session, which concentrates on peer pressure. The remaining sessions involve only parents and include instruction on identifying risk factors for adolescent substance use, developing effective parenting skills, conflict and anger management, and involving children in positive family activities." GGC is a popular program nationally and used by a number of tribal organizations, although it is not clear whether these tribes have adapted the program to their cultures and needs.

Retrieved from https://www.thinkhealthla.org/promisepractice/index/view?pid=684

Details

Self-described Outcomes

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare rates Guiding Good Choices as a "2 – Supported by Research Evidence" on its Scientific Rating Scale, which is based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. See relevant peer reviewed research at: http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/guiding-good-choices-sup-sup/detailed

“Two evaluations used random assignment designs with large sample sizes and produced scientifically credible and significant program effects. The 1997 assessment showed significant positive effects on increasing proactive communication between parents and children, decreasing the degree of mothers' negative interaction with their children, and enhanced bonds and expressions of positive feelings (both general interaction and problem-solving).

“The 1999 evaluation demonstrated positive effects for intervention parents and children. Compared with members of a control group, GGC parents showed improvements in child management skills, increases in parent-child affective quality, and higher ratings of mothers' self-efficacy. Compared with members of a control group, GGC children demonstrated significantly less alcohol initiation and positive trends in reducing tobacco and marijuana use.

“A third study found that the program could have prevented an estimated 9% of control group individuals from engaging in drunkenness, 11% from experiencing alcohol-related problems and cigarette use, and 16% from engaging in illicit drug use.” Retrieved from: http://www.smcalltogetherbetter.org/promisepractice/index/view?pid=684

Level of Adaptation Promising, not adapted

Focus Areas

Child
Family

Risk Factors Substance abuse

Resilience/Protective Factors

Family cohesion
Family functioning
Knowledge of parenting and child development
Strong parent/Child relationship

Cultural/Resiliance Factors

Family commitment, safe and healthy relationships
Support (family, friends, community)/interdependence

Tribal Role Setting