Parents, Do You Know if the Parents of Your Children's Friends are Home?

When your child goes to his or her friend's house, do you know if the parents are home?

A community group working to reduce substance abuse among youth suggests that parents double-check with the parents of their children's friends.

Castro Valley Community Action Network (CVCAN) offers concrete advice for parents and asks them to make a pledge. The organization is grant -funded and works closely with Castro Valley schools and law enforcement agencies.

Here's their latest:

Connect with the Parents of Your Child's Friends 

• When your child goes to his or her friend's house, do you know if the parents are home?   
• Will they be aware of what the kids are doing by being present and visible?
• What about allowing access to alcohol or prescription drugs in the medicine cabinet?

Here is an opportunity for you to connect with the parents of your child's friends, introduce yourself, and confirm the details of the get-together.  When you sign theSafe Homes Pledge, not only are you pledging to provide a safe home for their child to visit. but you will be given a list of other parents' contact information who have also signed the pledge.

Parents sign a pledge that states:

When hosting students in our home....

• I will be present and visible.
• I will not provide or allow access to firearms, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and medications.
• I will discuss these values with my child, and encourage communication.

Learn more and sign the Safe Homes Pledge.    

Myth #1:   

If I sign the pledge, I can't have alcohol in my home. 

Truth:        

You may have alcohol in your home.  The pledge states that you will not allow anyone underage to have alcohol in home.  If you are over 21, we encourage you to be a good role model and hold children responsible for obeying the law.

For more information including FAQs, visit the CV CAN library. 

Working together we can keep Castro Valley safe for our children. 

Prepared by CV CAN