Social Marketing Expert Story idea. Link in with restaurants, churches, local politicians, and promote on social media / traditional media.

Celebrate Family Day Monday, Sept 28, 2009 - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children TM is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free. Family Day reminds parents that  Dinner Makes A Difference!

From 2003 to 2008 research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has consistently found that children who have frequent family dinners are less likely to use marijuana, tobacco and drink alcohol.

CASA research reveals that compared to children who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), children who have infrequent family dinners (less than three per week) are two and a half times likelier to have used marijuana and tobacco, and one and a half times likelier to have drunk alcohol.

“Parents who make every day Family Day are taking a positive step toward raising children who are emotionally and physically healthy, academically successful, and drug and alcohol free,” said Kathleen Ferrigno, CASA’s Dir. of Marketing.

“Family dinners do make a difference. America’s drug problem is not going to be solved in courtrooms or legislative hearing rooms by judges and politicians. It will be solved in living rooms and dining rooms and across kitchen tables – by parents and families,” said Califano. “It has less to do with the food on the plate and more to do with what is happening at the table. Gathering each night lets children know that their parents are available to them and it serves as a simple and powerful way to foster an excellent parent/child relationship.”

http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/