Apply a Program Theory

Educators and practitioners who interface with parents can develop a program theory to guide their work. Program coordinators charged with designing campaigns, educational activities, and interventions can use a six-step approach to bolster their efforts with a theoretical framework.

An example of a campaign utilizing a program theory and the Six-Step Approach is the Ride Like A Friend. Drive Like You Care. peer-to-peer campaign. Please review this effective teen driving campaign that promotes in vehicle passenger management strategies for the driver (setting car rules), how passengers can reduce distractions for the driver, and how drivers can communicate to their peers that they "expect respect."

Some examples of positive social norm campaigns for various age groups include:

• Perkins, H. Wesley (Ed.) The Social Norms Approach to Preventing School and College Age Substance Abuse: A Handbook for Educators, Counselors, and Clinicians. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
• Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure a.k.a.the Pink Ribbon Campaign
• Yes We Can
• The Designated Driver Campaign which uses the slogan "Friends Don't let Friends Drive Drunk"