About Guiding Good Choices
Guiding Good Choices (GGC) was developed by Drs. David Hawkins and Richard Catalano at the University of Washington. It has been successfully delivered to families like yours across the United States in school, community, and healthcare settings. The program is available in English and Spanish.
GGC leads to better teen health and stronger families
GGC was tested in two randomized controlled trials. They showed that GGC had positive effects on the wellbeing of teenagers and their families. These effects lasted long after the program ended. For example, four to six years after parents and 6th graders participated in Guiding Good Choices, participating youth, compared to controls, were:
- 28% more likely to remain drug free
- 41% less likely to use alcohol and marijuana
- 54% less likely to progress to more serious substance abuse
GGC also reduced symptoms of depression and delinquent behavior in youth participants through grade 12.
GGC families benefited from stronger family bonds, improved parent-child communication, greater use of guidelines, monitoring and consequences to help guide preteen and teen behavior and decision making, and better management of family conflict.
How does GGC work?
In five sessions, you’ll learn specific actions that promote healthy development and reduce risky behavior in the teen years. Home practice and weekly family meetings build family connections and help you and your kids apply skills in real life. GGC emphasizes strong family bonds as the key that motivates preteens to follow family guidelines and stay on a course toward better health and educational outcomes as teenagers. How to Use GGC