Prevention works best when it becomes part of the school culture—not a one-time presentation. Parents Lead can be woven into the everyday places where students, staff and families already connect.

I’d organize the page around four areas:

In the classroom

Bring prevention into everyday learning and student interactions.

  • Use Parents Lead classroom activities and conversation starters
  • Build social-emotional and decision-making skills into lessons
  • Use everyday moments to talk about healthy choices, coping and relationships
  • Incorporate prevention into health, advisory or other existing classes
  • Encourage students to identify trusted adults and sources of support

Explore classroom activities

In your policies and practices

Look at how your school’s policies support prevention and student well-being.

  • Review substance use and behavioral health policies
  • Make sure expectations are clear and consistent
  • Consider how discipline practices support connection and help-seeking
  • Include prevention and behavioral health in school improvement planning
  • Make sure students and families know where to find help

Build a prevention-minded school

In programs and activities

Use things your school is already doing as opportunities for prevention.

  • Back-to-school events
  • Red Ribbon Week
  • Parent-teacher conferences
  • Student clubs and activities
  • Sports and extracurriculars
  • Staff meetings and professional development
  • School newsletters and announcements

Find implementation ideas

With families

Make Parents Lead part of the way your school communicates with parents and caregivers.

  • Share conversation starters in newsletters
  • Send resources home with students
  • Include Parents Lead at family events
  • Share resources during conferences
  • Add Parents Lead to your school website or family resource page
  • Encourage families to keep conversations going at home

Involve families