The Health Department recently launched an expanded, enhanced ParentUp website, http://parentupvt.org/, a resource developed to help Vermont parents equip their middle- and high-school aged children for life’s challenges.
The State’s ParentUp initiative has provided parents with information about the risks of underage drinking, as well as resources for effective prevention and treatment. In addition to alcohol awareness, prevention, and treatment information, the new site also offers education and prevention resources surrounding other drug use and mental illness.
Likewise, the new ParentUp site provides tips and tools for all parents to help build a positive foundation for their children. Research shows that the kids most likely to develop healthy behaviors and emotions draw off of a collection of positive values, experiences, relationships, and qualities. ParentUp also includes resources for parents who feel their children need help immediately.
Parents across the state of Vermont provided feedback during the development of the new site.
ParentUp’s resources complement Healthy Lamoille Valley’s mission of making healthy choices easier choices. Youth report that parents have the most influence on their substance use decisions. In fact, the key reason kids give for not drinking is that they don’t want to disappoint their parents. Working together with parents, Healthy Lamoille Valley is making strides towards decreasing underage and binge drinking, and decreasing abuse of perceptions medications.
Visit ParentUp at http://parentupvt.org/.
