Mothers and Daughters Against Drunk Driving

Project Characteristics Program Areas Aimed at Youth Easy to Replicate Innovative Alcohol & Other Drugs Youth Programs PI & E Targeted Audience Jurisdiction Adolescent Girls and Parents Community level

Project Goals

• Teach alcohol refusal skills
  
• Develop an educational program available for mothers and daughters, as well as strengthen the girl/adult female relationship.
  
• Create unique partnerships for delivering and implementing the educational program
  

Strategies and Activities

The key strategy involved the local Girl Scout Council's assistance in educating mothers, or female guardians, and daughters together. The project was delivered through special events, mother/daughter retreats, day camps, resident camps, schools, Girl Scout troops, and 21st Century Learning Centers.

The program utilizes experiential education through songs, multi-media presentations, and written and spoken presentations. Mothers and daughters are educated on alcohol issues and how to report impaired drivers. Pledges not to drink and drive are signed by mothers. Daughters pledge not to drink. Mothers and daughters also sign a pledge agreeing to keep lines of communication open. Participants receive a t-shirt with a specifically designed logo reminding them about the program and what it represents.

The watchwords of the program are "Ask Me What I Stand For". The phrase encourages people to query the girls and adults about the program, giving them an opportunity to share the kinds of behaviors they choose to stand for and the kinds of behavior they will not stand for.

Results

• Over 300 girls and mothers participated in a one-month period. These numbers do not include the people reached by word-of-mouth.
  
• Media outlets applauded the program and deemed it a model program for youth-serving organizations.
  
• A sustainable educational program was developed.