When we think about strengthening our families, it can be easy to imagine that we need more time, better schedules or elaborate activities.
But strong family connections are often built in much smaller moments.
A conversation in the car. Dinner around the table. A few minutes together before bed. Asking a child about their day...and really listening to the answer.
Topics: positive parenting, safe homes smart parties, underage drinking, summer, Youth Prevention, teen party safety, summer safety, parenting teens
Phones help us do a lot. They keep us connected, organized and entertained. They help with homework, directions, schedules, recipes, work and staying in touch with the people we care about. But sometimes being connected to everything can make it harder to connect with the people sitting right beside us. A notification comes through during dinner. Someone checks a text. Another person starts scrolling. Before long, everyone may be together—but everyone's attention is somewhere else.
Topics: positive parenting, safe homes smart parties, underage drinking, summer, Youth Prevention, teen party safety, summer safety, parenting teens
Family dinner sounds wonderful in theory. Then real life happens. Someone has soccer practice. Another child has homework. A parent gets home late from work. One person wants tacos, another refuses to eat anything except chicken nuggets—and somehow it's already 7:30 p.m. If that sounds familiar, you're not doing family dinner wrong. In fact, family meals don't have to look perfect to create meaningful opportunities for connection. As we look ahead to Family Day on September 28, Informed Families encourages families to spend more intentional time eating, talking and connecting together. And that can look different for every family.
Topics: positive parenting, safe homes smart parties, underage drinking, summer, Youth Prevention, teen party safety, summer safety, parenting teens
On Monday, September 28, 2026, families across the country will celebrate Family Day...a reminder that some of the most meaningful opportunities to connect with our children happen during ordinary moments together.
Topics: positive parenting, safe homes smart parties, underage drinking, summer, Youth Prevention, teen party safety, summer safety, parenting teens
The official 2026 Red Ribbon Week® theme, “Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free.™,” encourages young people to recognize that choosing a healthy, drug-free lifestyle is an act of courage, leadership, and positive influence. Created by Ava Tackett, a student at Griswold Middle School in Connecticut, the theme reminds students that heroes are not limited to fictional characters, celebrities, or athletes. They can be classmates, friends, family members, teachers, and community leaders who make responsible choices and encourage others to do the same.
Topics: positive parenting, safe homes smart parties, underage drinking, summer, Youth Prevention, teen party safety, summer safety, parenting teens
Summer gives kids and teens more freedom, more downtime, and more chances to get together with friends. That can be a great thing. Pool parties, sleepovers, beach days, birthdays, and backyard hangouts are all part of making memories.
But before you say yes to the next invitation, it is worth taking a quick pause.
Topics: positive parenting, safe homes smart parties, underage drinking, summer, Youth Prevention, teen party safety, summer safety, parenting teens
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For far too long, a powerful misconception has shaped conversations across America: the belief that marijuana is safe. Many people genuinely want to believe this—because life is stressful, connection is important, and fitting in feels good. But wanting something to be true does not make it true.
Topics: President's Message, lock your meds, safe parties, safe homes smart parties, alcohol, Informed Families, lock your meds pledge, alcohol use, summer, alcohol abuse, substance abuse
As we close out the year, I’ve been reflecting on a fascinating trend recently highlighted in The Washington Post: a quiet but growing spiritual reawakening among some young adults. While national data shows that many in Gen Z continue to step away from organized religion, faith leaders across the country are seeing something unexpected — a small but deeply committed group of students leaning into faith with renewed purpose and conviction.
Topics: President's Message, lock your meds, safe parties, safe homes smart parties, alcohol, Informed Families, lock your meds pledge, alcohol use, summer, alcohol abuse, substance abuse
Turn on the news and you’ll notice—bad stories dominate the headlines. We seem drawn to the drama, the fear, the chaos. Maybe it gives us a strange sense of adrenaline or relief—“thank goodness that’s not me.” But what about the quiet stories of success, of prevention, of families making healthy choices every day? Those don’t often make the front page, even though they shape stronger, safer communities.
Topics: President's Message, lock your meds, safe parties, safe homes smart parties, alcohol, Informed Families, lock your meds pledge, alcohol use, summer, alcohol abuse, substance abuse
Every October, millions of families, schools, and communities unite to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, a tradition that continues to remind us of the power of prevention and the importance of making safe, healthy choices. Since 1985, this campaign has stood as a national symbol of hope — built around one simple, yet life-changing truth: the power of one choice.
Topics: President's Message, lock your meds, safe parties, safe homes smart parties, alcohol, Informed Families, lock your meds pledge, alcohol use, summer, alcohol abuse, substance abuse
