What is Montana teaching parents?

Underage drinking: Is it caused by peer pressure? Society? The American culture? Whatever it may be, the greatest influence determining if youth will engage in risky behavior is actually their parents. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services saw parents as a more realistic form of prevention, and with this theory, teamed up with MSU in hopes to create a toolbox guardians can reach for as they tackle parenthood.

This came after some research shed light on how parents wanted help dealing with other stages in their children’s lives. The MSU Center for Health and Safety Culture, and researchers on campus with expertise in disentangling civil problems, collaborated to create a helpful parenting 101 guideline on the internet. Currently up and running since Jan. 23 of this year,  ParentingMontana.org includes advice not only for combating teenage alcohol use but also methodical guidelines for children at any age. The site is easy to use for any parent, especially one needing a speedy answer as they simply click on a module with the age of their child (5-19), then select the applicable category such as back talk, chores or lying.

MSU brought the website to life and has agreed to assist with the project for at least five more years. Tackling other problems with this same root-cause approach are also being explored.

This government prevention campaign has sparked interest from other states fancying something similar. The tips and pointers are based on science at the forefront of childhood development and parenting. Healthy development in children starts at home and ultimately leads to smaller chances of suicide, substance use and underage drinking. Montana is the first in the nation to create such a resource and it all goes back to the idea that parents who are able to tackle the smaller everyday problems will be better armed for the bigger stuff.