Hispanic PR Blog

NEW YORK, NY – The Partnership for a Drug-Free America announced the launch of “Habla Con Tus Hijos,” the first-of-its-kind Spanish-language web resource and educational campaign encouraging parents to have frequent conversations with their kids about the risks of drug and alcohol use.  “Habla Con Tus Hijos” empowers Hispanic parents and caregivers to start and maintain open, honest conversations with their children by providing them with helpful in-language tips and tools available at HablaConTusHijos.org.

“Habla Con Tus Hijos” is the new Spanish-language counterpart to the Partnership’s ongoing parent movement, Time To Talk(TM).  Both “Habla Con Tus Hijos” and Time To Talk are grounded in the Partnership’s national research that consistently shows kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs than those who do not get that crucial message at home. However our research also shows that Hispanic parents are less likely to talk with their kids about drugs and alcohol use. “Habla Con Tus Hijos” is culturally relevant to the Hispanic community and provides parents with easy tips and guides to make communicating with their kids less daunting.

“For the first time, Spanish-speaking parents have easy access to the valuable tools and resources they need to begin, what many parents view as, ‘difficult conversations’ with their kids about the dangers of drug and alcohol use,” said Alina Diaz, deputy director of multicultural programs for the Partnership. “There is a real need within the Hispanic community to motivate parents to communicate more openly with their kids about drugs and alcohol use, and through this effort, we hope to equip them with the resources they need to take charge of these conversations and protect their kids by keeping them healthy and drug free.”

At HablaConTusHijos.org, parents and caregivers can download free Spanish-language tools and resources such as, The Talk Kit (Guia de Dialogo), How to Start the Conversation (Como Iniciar La Conversacion), Five Teachable Moments (Cinco Momentos de Ensenanza) and How to Teach your Kids to Turn Down Drugs (Ensenales a los Jovenes a Rechazar las Drogas). Parents can also access an informative Drug Chart complete with the drugs most commonly abused by teens and the physical consequences of abusing these substances (Guia Informativa de las Drogas Para Los Padres). Also available for free download on the site is the parenting brochure “Su Hijo Lo Necesita,” made possible by MetLife Foundation.

“Talking with your kids and setting clear limits about not using drugs and alcohol is one of the most valuable, effective things parents can do,” said Partnership President Steve Pasierb. “This program is not only a great resource for Spanish-speaking parents, but also serves as a reminder that having open, honest conversations with your kids is not as hard as many parents might think.”

“As parents of teens, we need to educate ourselves about the dangers posed by the risks of drug and alcohol abuse within our own families,” said Sandra Carcamo, mother of two teenagers and a nine-year-old. “‘Habla Con Tus Hijos’ offers Hispanic parents like myself invaluable information, in a way that is easy to understand, and helps us find effective ways to communicate with our kids. Parents are the biggest influence over the decisions our kids make and we need to talk frequently with them about the risks of abusing these substances. They will listen!”

“Habla Con Tus Hijos” Debuts on National Univision Radio Show “Doctora Isabel”

“Habla Con Tus Hijos” debuts today on the “Doctora Isabel” show on Univision Radio from 1:00-3:00 pm EDT (check your local listings). Doctora Isabel is a Hispanic radio psychologist, who hosts the popular live, call-in talk show “Doctora Isabel,” where she dispenses advice and shares expert opinions on a host of crucial issues affecting Hispanic families.  The show airs coast-to-coast on RadioCadena & Univision in Miami, Monday through Friday.

Today’s special show is dedicated to reaching the Spanish-speaking community to stress the importance of talking with their kids often about drug and alcohol use.  The Partnership’s Alina Diaz and Partnership Parent Partners Sandra Carcamo and Marie-Noelle del Alamo will be featured on “Doctora Isabel’s” show.

“When it comes to our kids, we know that sooner or later someone is going to talk to them about alcohol and drug use and as parents it is crucial that we talk to them before someone else does,” said Doctora Isabel. “Having these conversations becomes a lot easier when you have help and this invaluable resource offers Hispanic parents easy access to the helpful information and necessary tools to help them start the conversation and maintain an open trusting relationship with their kids.”

Multi-media public service advertising to raise awareness about HablaConTusHijos.org begins airing nationally today.  Los Angeles-based Hispanic advertising agency Conill created television, radio and online banner advertising for “Habla Con Tus Hijos” and Greencard Creative in New York City developed the print campaign.  All creative work was produced pro bono and both Conill and Greencard Creative donated their time and resources to this effort.

HablaConTusHijos.org  was created with support from the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Time To Talk reaches parents and caregivers through the support of 2009 sponsors A&E Network, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Comcast, The Hershey Company, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Major League Baseball Charities, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Yahoo!

For more information visit HablaConTusHijos.org.