Schools play a key role in helping parents access and utilize ParentingMontana.org tools and resources.
ParentingMontana.org was designed specifically for Montana parents and those in a parenting role to
- address everyday challenges like creating a homework routine, support reading, or manage anger;
- while at the same time growing their child’s self-awareness, self- management, social awareness, relationship skills, and the ability to make responsible decisions.
ParentingMontana.org is a simple, free way schools can
- extend their Whole Child Skill Development to engage parents to support students in the home, and
- provide tools and resources to parents and families to work with their children to improve their achievement.
The opportunity to practice whole child skills taught inside and outside of the classroom setting is why partnerships with families and caregivers are critical to maximizing the benefits of whole child skill development.
The tools and resources can be viewed online (using a computer, tablet, or phone), downloaded and printed, or even listened to (there are audio versions).
Teachers, staff, and counselors can download, print, or email links of developmentally appropriate tools and resources for parents. The website could also be used by teachers or staff working with students in school.
ParentingMontana.org is designed for parents and those in a parenting role of children from birth to age 19. Topics include anger, back talk, bullying, confidence, conflict, discipline, friends, homework, listening, lying, tantrums, reading, sharing, stress, disrespect, responsibility, and more.
The website contains a variety of tools and resources valuable for parents, teachers, counselors, and staff including
- tools (to guide parents through five steps to address specific topics);
- brief summaries and rack cards that can be printed and used as quick references;
- “I Want to Know More” background information written for parents that provide additional information on specific topics;
- research summaries written for professionals;
- podcasts discussing key ideas in more depth; and
- supportive media including newsletter articles, videos, audio files, posters, and social media posts.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services partnered with the Center for Health and Safety Culture (Montana State University) to create ParentingMontana.org – an intentional effort to promote the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of Montana’s children by actively growing their skills of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and the ability to make responsible decisions.
Those who care for youth are the greatest stakeholders in their development and often the greatest influencers on their skill development. Most often, families and caregivers provide the earliest and most consistent, ongoing social interactions with students. ParentingMontana.org provides tools and resources for parents and those in a parenting role to enhance their parenting skills in growing the skills of children. The tools are appropriate for children from birth through the teen years.
Research1 shows that growing social and emotional skills
- reduces risky behaviors (such as underage drinking and the misuse of other drugs);
- prevents mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders;
- reduces negative outcomes such as dropping out of school, poor education attainment, unemployment, suicide, and others;
- improves academic performance; and
- leads to better employment outcomes (like being employed full time) later in life.
Positive outcomes from whole child skill development occur across the lifespan and in diverse cultural settings. Parents and those in a parenting role can develop the skills of their children at any age while addressing common parenting challenges like reading, stress, discipline, and making sure homework is completed.
As parents and those in a parenting role use the ParentingMontana.org tools with their children, both the children and the parents develop their skills – thus bolstering the parents’ abilities while strengthening protection for the child.
[1] Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D. & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Mental, emotional, and behavioral health are critical for individuals to have the opportunity to flourish, that is to lead meaningful, productive, and engaged lives.2 An individual’s mental, emotional, and behavioral health develop across the lifespan. Much of this development occurs in the first two decades of life.
Individuals with poor mental, emotional, and behavioral health are more likely to engage in risky behaviors (such as excessive drinking or substance misuse), experience mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.) and substance use disorders, and experience negative outcomes such as physical illness, disability, low education attainment, incarceration, homelessness, and suicide.2
Individuals with good mental, emotional, and behavioral health are more likely to have positive wellbeing. Positive wellbeing includes experiencing positive emotion, being engaged in activities, finding meaning in life, having positive relationships, and experiencing achievement.3
Mental, emotional, and behavioral health are impacted by a complex interaction of genetic, biological, social, and environmental factors. Efforts at the societal, community, organizational, and individual levels can intentionally promote healthy development and prevent risky behaviors, disorders, and negative outcomes. Such efforts can actively grow the social and emotional skills of children at all ages as a way to promote healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development.2
FIGURE 1. Logic behind ParentingMontana.org
The Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health of Montana’s Children
Mental, emotional, and behavioral health have been assessed periodically on the National Survey of Children’s Health.4 This survey measures several indicators of mental, emotional, and behavioral “flourishing” including behaviors like bouncing back quickly when things don’t go well, showing interest and curiosity in learning new things, working to finish tasks, and generally showing positive emotion.
In 2016-17, 68% of Montana’s young children (ages 6 months to 5 years) were reported to have high levels of flourishing (6% had low levels, and 26% had moderate levels). However, only 34% of Montana’s children and youth ages 6 to 17 years had high levels of flourishing (39% had low levels, and 27% had moderate levels).5
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System measures several indicators of mental, emotional, and behavioral health among high school students.6 The 2021 results reveal several areas for concern about Montana’s high school students:
- 31% consumed alcohol in the past month
- 16% engaged in high-risk drinking
- 20% consumed cannabis in the past month
- 41% felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more so they stopped doing some usual activities in the past year
- 22% seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year
Poor mental, emotional, and behavioral health can lead to negative outcomes including death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes (many involving the misuse of alcohol), overdoses, and suicide account for six out of every 10 deaths of children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 25 in the United States.7 While the rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes are declining, most crashes are caused by human behavior, which is often influenced by mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Unfortunately, rates of suicide are increasing – especially among young people.
ParentingMontana.org – A Three-Generation Approach
Research supports that growing the skills of parents improves the mental, emotional, and behavioral development of children. This connection between parent and child makes this strategy a two-generation approach.
Furthermore, research is now showing that a child with strong whole child skills develops into an adult with similar skills and that these skills as an adult will foster the healthy development of the next generation. In this way, growing strong self- awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills, along with the ability to make responsible decisions is really a three-generation approach with the potential for much broader impact.
Selected Research Behind ParentingMontana.org
Extensive research was used to inform ParentingMontana.org. The research summaries are standalone PDF files that you can view, download, and share. These brief documents summarize the research to bolster efforts to promote ParentingMontana.org. See Appendix A.
- Social and Emotional Development
- Social and Emotional Development Among Tribal Nations in Montana
- Social and Emotional Development as a Strategic Approach to Reduce Risk Factors and Bolster Protective Factors Associated with Underage Drinking
- Reducing Underage Drinking by Strengthening Social and Emotional Skills
- Adverse Childhood Experiences, Substance Misuse, and Social and Emotional Development
- Risk Factors and Supportive Strategies for Youth in Foster Care
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Circumstances, Impact, and Actions for Success
- Prescription Medications
- Cannabis
- Methamphetamine
[2] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development in Children and Youth: A National Agenda. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
[3] Seligman, M. E. P. (2012). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York: Atria Books.
[4] The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) is conducted annually by the U.S. Census on behalf of the Health Resources & Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
[5] Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data query. Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health supported by Cooperative Agreement U59MC27866 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB). Retrieved 12/31/19 from www.childhealthdata.org. CAHMI: www.cahmi.org.
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1991-2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/. Accessed on May 7, 2020.
[7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Vital Statistics System. (2013-16).
Getting Started
On the homepage, many parents find that getting started is easiest when they begin by reviewing:
- The Parenting Process for Your Child's Success, a step-by-step process for dealing with simple and challenging parenting topics to build critical life skills and improve their relationship with their child.
- Intentional Communication, where they can learn how to communicate in a purposeful way with their child to support and enhance their relationship.
- Intentional Ways to Grow a Healthy Parenting Relationship, where they discover ways to promote a healthy parenting relationship with their child.
Tools for the Age of Your Child
ParentingMontana.org provides easy to use parenting tools and resources to support a child’s success from birth through the teen years. The website includes practical topics to support Montana parents and those in a parenting role. On the ParentingMontana.org website, parents can search by age and issue to find tools addressing a variety of topics. A few topics include:
ParentingMontana.org contains the complete list of tools by age and issue.
- Anger
- Back Talk
- Bullying
- Chores
- Confidence
- Conflict
- Discipline
- Disrespect
- Eating
- Empathy
- Establishing Rules About Alcohol
- Establishing Rules About Marijuana
- Friends
- Happiness
- Homework
- Kindness
- Listening
- Lying
- Mixed Messages About Alcohol
- Mixed Messages About Marijuana
- Peer Pressure
- Reading
- Repairing Harm
- Resilience
- Responsibility
Audio Files
Audio files are included for each tool. Parents can listen to an audio file from the tool page or find the tools for the age of their child altogether, like a podcast, which can be found on popular podcast players.
Parenting Process for Your Child’s Success
The tools are based on an easy-to-use 5 step process that creates an environment for learning that allows parents and those in a parenting role and their children to practice and grow whole child skills. Parents can download a summary of the 5 steps to keep close or even put on the refrigerator. The tools give specific actions to take, and ideas of the words to say to engage their children, to build their relationship, and strengthen their communication. At the end of each tool, there is an option to download the tool, save it, or email it.
Tip
Teachers can email parents tools to help address school related issues like reading, homework, listening, responsibility, confidence, empathy, anger, bullying, friends, etc.
I Want to Know More
In addition to the parenting tools, ParentingMontana.org includes supplementary background information (called “I Want to Know More”) written for parents on such topics as:
- Parenting Process for Your Child’s Success
- Communication
- Relationships
- Development
- Risky Behavior
- Discipline
- Foster Care
- Child Care
- Trauma
Media
Media include articles, podcasts, videos, radio, and print materials.
Articles: Parenting articles written by experts in the field
- A Parent's Greatest Gift: Self-Management. Ideas for how parents and those in a parenting role can best promote the invaluable skill of self-management at various ages.
- Children’s Growing Identity: Cultivating Self-Awareness to Inspire Confidence. Ideas on how to cultivate self-awareness in children by teaching them to recognize their emotions and how they influence their behavior.
- Cultivating Trusting Relationships. Learn how an adult can become “ask-able” -- the kind of adult in which children and teens are comfortable approaching and confiding.
- Decisions, Decisions...Preparing Our Children to Make Responsible Choices. Learn how preparing your child for independence requires numerous small chances to make decisions so that they are ready for the big choices to come.
- Empathizing With a Bigger World in Your Own Backyard: How Parents Can Support a Child’s Growing Social Awareness. Learn a number of ways you can help your children and teens become more socially aware.
- Guiding Children With Tools for Success: Parenting With Social and Emotional Learning. Learn how to parent in an intentional way that develops social and emotional skills within children.
Podcasts: Inspirational and educational podcasts highlighting information from ParentingMontana.org
- Introducing The PareningMontana.org Podcast. Join the ParentingMontana.org podcast in conversations about the challenges and the joys of being in a parenting role in Montana and learn how we can raise our kids to be confident, respectful, and make healthy choices.
- Guidance and Discipline for Skill Building. In this episode, we have a conversation about how providing guidance with discipline can grow skills and improve our relationships with our children. We are joined by Jennifer Miller, author of the book, Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids — From Toddlers to Teenagers.
- Intentional Ways to Grow a Healthy Parenting Relationship. In this conversation, we talk about our relationships with our children. Joined by Dr. Shannon Wanless, an Applied Developmental Psychologist and the Director for the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, we learn intentional ways we can grow a healthy relationship that can be a foundation for our children’s success.
- Parenting Process for Success. In this episode, we have a conversation about a step-by-step process parents or someone in a parenting role can follow for dealing with simple and challenging parenting topics. The process can help to build critical life skills and improve your relationship with your child.
- Social and Emotional Development. In this conversation, we talk about social and emotional development. We are joined by Maurice Elias, Ph.D., one of the pioneers of social and emotional development, director of the Rutgers University Social-Emotional Development Lab, and author of Emotionally Intelligent Parenting. We discuss the importance of social and emotional development for a child’s success.
- Communication. In this episode, we talk about intentional communication. Intentional communication is a way of communicating that deliberately fosters social and emotional skill development. It supports and enhances the relationship between parents and their child.
- Having Conversations About Alcohol and Drug Use. In this episode, we talk about some of the conversations we should be having with our children about alcohol and drugs and get specific ideas about what those conversations could sound like.
- Being at Your Best as a Parent. Taking Care of Your Health and Wellbeing. In this episode, we have a conversation about ways parents and those in a parenting role can be at their best for their children. We discuss intentional ways to develop our own skills and care for our own well-being – both physical and mental. We welcome back Jennifer Miller, author of the book, Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids — From Toddlers to Teenagers.
- Improve Your Relationship With Your Parenting Partner - Part As parents, we want to be at our best for our children. In part 1 of this episode, we discuss how taking care of our own health and wellbeing can include learning ways to improve our relationships with our parenting partners.
- Improve Your Relationship With Your Parenting Partner - Part 2. In part 2 of this episode, we continue the conversation on ways to improve our relationships with our parenting partners.
Video: Inspirational, educational, how-to, and promotional videos highlighting information from ParentingMontana.org
Radio: 30-second educational audio files to listen, download, and share
Rack Cards: At-a-glance resources highlighting key information from ParentingMontana.org
Small Cards: Print-ready business cards to promote ParentingMontana.org
Social Media: Ready-to-post social media to promote ParentingMontana.org
Web Banners: Ready-to-place web banners to promote ParentingMontana.org
Posters: Print-ready posters to promote ParentingMontana.org
Billboards: Print-ready billboard files to promote ParentingMontana.org
Roll-Up Banner: Print-ready roll-up banner files to promote ParentingMontana.org
Montana Parent Survey Results
Key findings from surveys of Montana parents.
Resources
Resources section that serves as a connection to additional Montana resources parents might find helpful.
Other Resources Available
In addition, ParentingMontana.org has more detailed information and resources that can be accessed through a child care resource and referral agency or a Montana prevention specialist in your region. These two entities are local experts available to help you engage parents and those in a parenting role in your community to use the ParentingMontana.org website and tools. They have guidance and resources to work with schools, child care providers, social service agencies, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and others to connect parents and those in a parenting role to the ParentingMontana.org website. They also have access to additional media resources and online training to support their efforts to promote the website and tools.
Reaching and engaging parents and those in a parenting role are essential in connecting them with the tools and resources available through ParentingMontana. org. The tools and resources found on ParentingMontana.org can be used to engage with parents in a variety of ways.
Guidance for schools to engage parents to utilize ParentingMontana.org.
PowerPoint for Parents and Those in a Parenting Role
This PowerPoint, developed for schools, can be presented to parents during events like conferences and parent meetings. The presentation includes detailed guidance for the presenter, provides background information about ParentingMontana.org, summarizes the findings of Montana Parent Surveys, and introduces the website.
Tools For the Age of Your Child
- Download pdf files and print tools to share with parents during school events
- Email links to tools directly to parents.
- Email or print out tool summaries or rack cards to share with parents
Press Releases
- Use press releases in local newspapers, school newsletters, and other communications with parents. See Appendix A
- Download and print (or email directly) to share with parents and those in a parenting role
- Provide at school meetings (school board meetings, staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings)
- Use content in school newsletters and other communications to parents
- Use before or after other presentations or videos as short videos to direct parents to ParentingMontana.org
- Send as hyperlinks via school newsletters or emails
15-Second and 30-Second Videos
- Share directly with parents and those in a parenting role
- Share at school meetings (school board meetings, staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings)
- Play at parent events (conferences, back to school night)
- Send through school newsletter or other communications to parents
Inspirational, Educational, How-To, and 90-Second Videos
- These longer videos tell a story and provide more details about key topics. These can be shared directly with parents.
- Use during school meetings (school board meetings, staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings)
- Show videos prior to parent meetings
- Play before high school sporting events (announcer plays during game)
- Partner with local radio stations for use as public service announcements (PSAs)
- Display at school events
- Distribute at parent/teacher conferences
- Display in the school’s main office
- Distribute at parent events
- Send home with students
- Distribute at parent/teacher conferences, insert in school mailings, or include in school newsletters
- Send social media posts through school’s social media
- Use individual posts as talking points in letters, newsletters, press releases, etc.
- Use as web banner on school’s website
- If funds are available, purchase ads on Pandora and websites frequented by Montana parents
- Display at parent or community events
- Display at parent/teacher conferences
- Post in staff and counselor offices
- Print these in poster size to display at parent/teacher conferences and other parent events
- Print these on banners for display at events
- Use when displaying materials for the ParentingMontana.org project
- Display at school events/meetings (sports events, parent teacher conferences)
ParentingMontana.org provides tools and resources to help parents and those in a parenting role raise healthy kids. Developing skills, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and the ability to make responsible decisions of youth (and their parents) will lead to positive academic and behavioral outcomes and will reduce risky behavior.
Schools play an important role in helping parents access and utilize ParentingMontana.org tools and resources. By engaging parents and those in a parenting role in the website and resources and using the ParentingMontana.org media effectively as part of the school’s overall family engagement strategy, you can improve outcomes for Montana’s youth.
General Press Releases
- ParentingMontana.org: Practical Parenting Tools for Your Child’s Success
- ParentingMontana.org: Tools for Your Child’s Success
- Montana: The Best Place to Live and Raise a Family
- ParentingMontana.org Explains the Importance of Social and Emotional Development in Montana Youth
- Are You Worried That Your Child Is Drinking Alcohol? ParentingMontana.org Has Resources to Help.
- Statewide Resources and Services for Montana Parents and Families
- Did You Know That 82% of Montana Parents Regularly Engage in a Conversation With Their Child About Alcohol and Its Impact on Health and Safety?
- Parents With Stronger Social and Emotional Skills Are Over Six Times More Likely to Report Taking Steps to Prevent Underage Drinking.
- ParentingMontana.org: Now With Practical Parenting Tools for Children Ages 0 – 5
Release About Early Childhood
Release About Foster Care
ParentingMontana.org: Practical Parenting Tools for Your Child’s Success
[Insert School Name] recommends ParentingMontana.org, an online resource that provides tools to Montana parents and those in a parenting role to help raise healthy, successful children. After all, in Montana, we have many things to be proud of, and it’s the best place to live and raise a family.
ParentingMontana.org includes educational tools and guidance for parents and those in a parenting role who want to learn about common parenting challenges such as back talk, anger, bullying, chores, confidence, friends, homework, listening, lying, peer pressure, routines, stress, and underage drinking, among others. The tools feature each parenting challenge and provide ways that parents and those in a parenting role can approach the issues with their child. The tools are appropriate for children ages 0 to 19.
The tools focus on growing skills that lead to healthy and successful lives and reduce risky behaviors like underage drinking. Parents and those in a parenting role can develop important skills in their children at any age while addressing common parenting challenges like establishing routines and making sure homework is completed.
On the website, viewers can search by age and issue to find tools. All the tools can be easily accessed, downloaded, or distributed electronically. For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
ParentingMontana.org: Tools for Your Child’s Success
ParentingMontana.org is an online resource that provides tools to parents and those in a parenting role to help them raise healthy, successful children.
This online resource includes information and guidance for issues such as back talk, anger, bullying, chores, confidence, discipline, friends, homework, listening, lying, peer pressure, routines, stress, and underage drinking, among others. The tools are appropriate for children ages 0 to 19.
ParentingMontana.org also provides information about improving communication and relationships with children, healthy risk taking, discipline, and alcohol and its impact on the teenage brain.
On the website, viewers can search by age and issue to find tools. All the tools can easily be accessed, downloaded, or distributed electronically. For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Montana: The Best Place to Live and Raise a Family
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – In Montana, we have many things to be proud of, and it’s the best place to live and raise a family. ParentingMontana.org provides easy-to-use tools for parents and those in a parenting role to build the skills kids need to be successful.
ParentingMontana.org includes information and guidance for common parenting challenges such as back talk, anger, bullying, chores, confidence, discipline, friends, homework, listening, lying, peer pressure, routines, stress, and underage drinking, among others. The tools are for parents and those in a parenting role of children ages 0 to 19.
Additionally, the website also offers media including videos, radio ads, rack cards, posters, social media graphics, articles, and more. The media can be viewed, downloaded, and shared to help bring awareness and promote the parenting tools.
For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
ParentingMontana.org Explains the Importance of Social and Emotional Development in Montana Youth
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – ParentingMontana.org is an online resource that offers tools to Montana parents and those in a parenting role to help them raise healthy, successful children. The tools grow social and emotional skills by addressing common parenting challenges like confidence, chores, routines, and homework.
We know that each person develops physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally throughout their life, and that supporting healthy development is important. ParentingMontana.org recognizes that sometimes we don’t pay enough attention to growing social and emotional skills.
Stress management, self-motivation, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and ethical responsibility are social and emotional skills. Social and emotional skills are essential for people’s success in school, work, and relationships. These skills are associated with better behavior, lower emotional stress, and positive wellbeing.
ParentingMontana.org emphasizes that parents and those in a parenting role have a significant influence on their children and can create environments to help their children develop social and emotional skills in everyday life. ParentingMontana.org provides ways for parents and those in a parenting role to teach and practice the skills with their children.
In Montana, we have many things to be proud of, and it’s the best place to live and raise a family. ParentingMontana.org provides parenting tools to build the skills our kids need to be successful.
For more information on social and emotional development, visit “I Want to Know More” on ParentingMontana.org. This section is an excellent resource for parents who would also like to learn about intentional ways to grow a healthy parenting relationship, healthy risk taking, discipline for skill building, logical consequences, why teens shouldn’t drink alcohol, what to do if your child is drinking, and other valuable information.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Are You Worried That Your Child Is Drinking Alcohol? ParentingMontana.org Has Resources to Help.
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – ParentingMontana.org is an online resource that offers tools to Montana parents and those in a parenting role to help them raise healthy, successful children. The website includes background information for parents and those in a parenting role about what to do if your child is drinking alcohol.
The resource titled “Is My Child Drinking? What Do I Do?” explores signs and symptoms of alcohol use, ways to talk with your child about concerns, and options for getting your child help.
The resource starts by explaining three categories of signs and symptoms that a child is using alcohol: physical signs such as bloodshot eyes or changes in sleeping patterns, behavioral signs such as missing school or isolating themselves, and psychological signs such as being irritable or a change in motivation.
Next, the resource describes that it is important to first have a conversation with your child about your concerns. It provides pointers and strategies for intentional communication that may come in handy during the conversation. From there, it explains different types of outcomes that could result from the conversation and ways to approach each scenario.
We know that parents and those in a parenting role make a difference in their child’s life. Parents play a significant role in reducing underage drinking.
Visit I Want to Know More on ParentingMontana.org to learn more about what to do if you’re worried your child is drinking alcohol. Additional information on intentional communication, intentional ways to grow a healthy parenting relationship, social and emotional development, healthy risk taking, discipline for skill building, and logical consequences is readily available.
The resources were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Statewide Resources and Services for Montana Parents and Families
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – ParentingMontana.org is an online resource that provides tools to Montana parents and those in a parenting role to help them raise healthy, successful children. The website includes a Resources webpage with information on statewide resources and services that may be helpful to parents and those in a parenting role.
ParentingMontana.org includes a list of services for children and families such as child protection/welfare services, children’s health services, youth care services, and more. The Resources page also includes a list of Montana addiction and mental health services, facilities, and prevention-related information including adult and children’s mental health services, suicide prevention resources, Montana mental health centers, and a list of the contact information of Montana prevention specialists, among others.
For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org and click on the Resources page.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Did You Know That 82% of Montana Parents Regularly Engage in a Conversation With Their Child About Alcohol and Its Impact on Health and Safety?
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – In 2017, one-third of Montana high school students reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, and about one in six students reported drinking to get drunk (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey). The state of Montana has focused on reducing underage drinking, and efforts are making a difference. Survey results show that underage drinking among high school students has been steadily decreasing over the past 25 years and is at the lowest level since 1993. How can we, as Montanans, continue to reduce underage drinking and the many risks that go along with it? ParentingMontana.org is here to help.
ParentingMontana.org, an online resource that offers parenting tools to help raise healthy, successful children, includes recent survey findings that show the existing, positive culture among Montana parents to reduce underage drinking. The survey results show that most Montana parents have protective beliefs and are engaging in protective behaviors to reduce the chances their child uses alcohol.
The survey results indicate that most parents in Montana (87%) always uphold rules about their teen not drinking alcohol. Also, most parents in Montana (92%) have established a clear rule for their child about never riding in a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking, and most parents (90%) think about their own drinking behaviors and what they are modeling for their child. It also shows that most parents (82%) regularly engage in a conversation with their child about alcohol and its impact on health and safety.
What about those who are not engaging in parenting strategies to reduce the risk of underage drinking? What about those who may not know how? ParentingMontana.org provides many easy-to-use parenting tools for those with children ages 0 to 19. The tools can be used by parents and those in a parenting role to support their child’s success in school and in life.
Learn about the survey results and check out the parenting tools on www.ParentingMontana.org.
The survey and tools were developed by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Parents With Stronger Social and Emotional Skills Are Over Six Times More Likely to Report Taking Steps to Prevent Underage Drinking.
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – In 2017, one-third of Montana high school students reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, and about one in six students reported drinking to get drunk (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey). The state of Montana has focused on reducing underage drinking, and efforts are making a difference. Survey results show that underage drinking among high school students has been steadily decreasing over the past 25 years and is at the lowest level since 1993. How can Montanans continue to reduce underage drinking and the many risks that go along with it? Recent survey results show that the key may lie not only in developing skills in youth, but also in parents and those in a parenting role.
We know that parents and those in a parenting role play a critical part in their child’s life. Parents and those in a parenting role can make a difference in their child’s decision not to drink alcohol. A 2017 survey found Montana parents with stronger social and emotional competencies are over six times more likely to report high engagement in protective behaviors to prevent underage drinking. That is, parents who have stronger skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and responsible decision making are more likely to take part in parenting strategies to reduce underage drinking in their child.
The survey results also show that most parents in Montana are engaging in protective behaviors to reduce underage drinking such as having conversations with their children about alcohol, teaching their children about the risks of alcohol, and setting clear expectations and consequences about not drinking. These parenting strategies are important, and although many parents in Montana reported high levels of social and emotional skills, the survey also shows that there is plenty of room to grow. About half of parents rated themselves as having a strong relationship and strong communication with their child.
It is important for Montana parents and those in a parenting role to continue to engage in protective behaviors to support their child’s health and safety. ParentingMontana.org provides parenting tools to grow social and emotional skills of parents and those in a parenting role and their children. For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org.
The survey and tools were developed by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Release About Early Childhood
ParentingMontana.org: Now With Practical Parenting Tools for Children Ages 0 – 5
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – In Montana, we have many things to be proud of, and it’s the best place to live and raise a family. ParentingMontana.org is an online resource that provides tools to Montana parents and those in a parenting role to help raise healthy, successful children. The website expanded their tools to include a wide array of information and practical tips for those with children ages 0 – 5.
The early childhood tools provide ideas and guidance for parents and those in a parenting role who want to learn how to address parenting challenges such as building listening, confidence, and empathy in your child. The tools also include guidance for parents and those in a parenting role in the process of choosing a child care provider, navigating high conflict, and dealing with differing ideas about parenting from other important people in your child’s life, among other common situations. The tools explain each parenting challenge and provide ways that parents and those in a parenting role can approach the issues with their child.
The tools focus on growing skills that lead to healthy and successful lives and reductions in risky behaviors in the future, such as underage drinking. Parents and those in a parenting role can develop important skills in their children at any age while addressing common parenting challenges and situations.
On the website, viewers can search by age and issue to find tools. All the tools can be easily accessed, downloaded, or distributed electronically. For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.
Release About Foster Care
[INSERT CITY, STATE] – Foster parenting can be challenging yet rewarding. ParentingMontana.org provides tools and guidance for foster parenting, from deciding whether to become a foster parent to navigating the first few weeks of a child joining your family. The tools can help inform important decisions and support foster parents in raising healthy, successful children.
Deciding to become a foster parent is a big decision that takes thoughtful consideration. ParentingMontana.org includes tools with reflective questions and tips to help prospective foster parents decide what the right path for them is.
The website also includes information to help foster parents prepare themselves and others around them for a child in foster care. The tools are full of guidance and suggestions to help mentally prepare for when a child joins their family. Guidance for the first 24 hours, week, and 6 weeks of a child in foster care that has joined a family and information on respite care is also available.
Additionally, ParentingMontana.org offers parenting tools for children ages 0 – 19. Foster parents can help develop important skills in children at any age while addressing common parenting challenges like establishing routines and making sure homework is completed.
Viewers can access the foster care information in the “I Want to Know More” section of the website, and they can search by age and issue to find more tools. All the tools can be easily accessed, downloaded, or distributed electronically. For more information, visit www.ParentingMontana.org.
The tools were created by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in partnership with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture.