Too Smart To Start Menu

Introduction

Research-Based Prevention Strategies

Core Tactics

Support Materials

Additional Resources

Public Domain Notice

Too Smart To Start is a public education initiative that provides research-based strategies and materials to professionals and volunteers at the community level to help them conduct an underage alcohol use prevention initiative. The materials are designed to educate 9- to 13-year-olds about the harms of underage alcohol use and to support parents and caregivers as they participate in their children’s activities.

Too Smart To Start has three objectives:

To increase the number of conversations that parents/caregivers and their 9- to 13-year-olds have about the harms of underage alcohol use.
To increase the percentage of 9- to 13-year-olds and their parents/caregivers who see underage alcohol use as harmful.
To increase public disapproval of underage alcohol use.

Research confirms that there are a variety of proven approaches for preventing substance abuse. And any one of these approaches can be used to achieve the Too Smart To Start objectives. This menu is designed to help you in selecting and implementing the best approaches for preventing underage alcohol use in your community.

The menu includes the following information:

Optional Approaches for Achieving Too Smart To Start Objectives
Research Based Prevention Strategies
Too Smart To Start Core Tactics
Too Smart To Start Support Materials
Additional Resources

Optional Approaches for Achieving Too Smart To Start Objectives

The following tables provide two options for achieving each of the Too Smart To Start objectives. The options are identified as less intensive and more intensive. Less intensive options require a low level of preparation and fewer resources, and tend to have a limited reach. The more intensive options require more preparation and resources, and tend to have a broader reach. As you review these options remember that Too Smart To Start is not intended to be prescriptive in the way it is implemented locally. Therefore, the options may be used as presented, modified to meet your community’s specific needs and resources, or simply used to generate fresh ideas.

Descriptions of the prevention strategies, tactics, and communication products are included on pages 8 through 12. Tips for planning activities and events to support Too Smart To Start can be found in The Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide.

OBJECTIVE ONE: TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS THAT PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND THEIR 9- to 13-YEAR-OLDS HAVE ABOUT THE HARMS OF UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE

	Option 1 Less Intensive	Option 2 More Intensive
Audiences:	Parents/Caregivers	Parents/Caregivers 9-to-13-Year-Olds
Prevention Strategies:	Information Dissemination	Information Dissemination Education Environmental Strategies
Tactics:*	Mosaic* (p.10)	Mosaic (p. 10) Community Documentary (p. 11)
Supporting Activities:**	Media Campaign Information Hotline Direct Mail Campaign Neighbor-to-Neighbor Outreach Speaking Engagements	Media Campaign Information Hotline Direct Mail Campaign Neighbor-to-Neighbor Outreach Speaking Engagements Parenting/Family Management Classes (p. 17-18) Peer Leader/Helper Program Life Skills Training for Youth (p .16) Normative Education
Supporting Events:	Press Conference Health Fair	Press Conference Health Fair Open House
Communication Products:	The Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide (p. 12) Brochure (p. 12) Newsletter (p. 20) Flyer Postcard/E-card	The Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide (p. 13) Brochure (p. 13) Newsletter (p. 20) Flyer Postcard/E-card Billboards Poster (p. 13) Video News Release Too Smart To Start Game, Ready, Set, Listen (p. 15) Curricula (p. 13) Data Book (p. 13)

* Page numbers are listed in the chart for items that are mentioned in the support materials and additional resources section of the menu.
** See the Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide for tips on planning and hosting supporting activities and events.

OBJECTIVE TWO: TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF 9-TO 13-YEAR-OLDS AND THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS WHO SEE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE AS HARMFUL

	Option 1 Less Intensive	Option 2 More Intensive
Audiences:	9- to 13-Year-Olds	9-to-13-Year-Olds Parents/Caregivers
Prevention Strategies:	Information Dissemination	Information Dissemination Education Community-based Process Alternatives
Tactics:	Mosaic (p.10)	Mosaic (p. 10) Community Documentary (p. 11)
Supporting Activities:	Peer-to-Peer Outreach Media Campaign Web Chats Spokesperson Presentation	Peer-to-Peer Outreach Media Campaign Web Chats Spokesperson Presentation Peer Leader/Helper Program Parenting/Family Management Classes (p. 23-24) Alcohol-Free Activities Community Service Activities Creating a Community Mural
Supporting Events:	Street Theater Competitive Event (academic, artistic, sports) School Assembly (p. 19)	Street Theater Competitive Event (academic, artistic, sports) School Assembly (p. 19) Health Fair Faith Community Assembly
Communication Products:	The Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide (p. 12) Billboards Bumper Stickers Booklet Flyer Movie Trailers Web site (p. 14-16) Poster (p. 14)	The Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide (p. 12) Billboards Bumper Stickers Booklet Flyer Movie Trailers Web site (p. 14-16) Poster (p. 14) Give-aways (such as keychains, t-shirts, etc.) Curricula (p. 13) Comic Books Transit Cards Newsletter (p. 20) Magazine/Newspaper Articles Email

OBJECTIVE THREE: TO INCREASE PUBLIC DISAPPROVAL OF UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE

	Option 1 Less Intensive	Option 2 More Intensive
Audiences:	Parents/Caregivers General Public Youth Serving Organizations Faith Community Medical Community Prevention Specialists Teachers/School Administrators State and Local Politicians	Parents/Caregivers General Public Youth Serving Organizations Faith Community Medical Community Prevention Specialists Teachers/School Administrators State and Local Politicians
Prevention Strategies:	Information Dissemination	Information Dissemination Community-based Process Environmental Strategies
Tactics:	Mosaic (p. 10) Community Documentary (p. 11)	Mosaic (p. 10) Community Documentary (p. 11)
Supporting Activities:	TV/Radio Appearances Direct Mail Spokesperson Presentations	TV/Radio Appearances Direct Mail Spokesperson Presentations Peer-to-Peer Outreach Media Campaign Multi-Agency Coordination & Collaboration
Supporting Events:	Town Hall Meeting Conference Workshops/Presentations Conference Exhibit	Town Hall Meeting Community Forums Conference Workshops/Presentations Conference Exhibits Press Conference Web Chats
Communication Products:	Newsletter (p. 20) Flyer Brochure Email Video News Release Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide (p. 12) Give-aways Speech	Newsletter (p. 20) Flyer Brochure Email Video News Release Newsletter, Newspaper, Magazine Article Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide (p. 12) Give-aways Web site Exhibit Transit Cards

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