In the "good old days," all the parents knew each other, and many families were socially connected in the community. Everyone knew that all the parents shared a sense of responsibility for all the safety of children in the community. Today, with opportunities for dual enrollment at community colleges, the Career Center, homeschoolers, students with cars, and massive school zones, it seems impossible to know all the kids and their parents. The older they get, the harder our job as parents gets, so we need to help each other so that all our kids will be safe.
Join in with other Forsyth County parents of teens to establish a network of homes for safe and appropriate teen gatherings. By working together, parents unite to do something positive and proactive even if we can't keep track of all the kids, all the parents and all the activities.
By signing the SAFE HOMES Parent Pledge and using the Directory as tools to help monitor our own children and their activities, we can reduce the risk for alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related problems in our community.
What is our goal? To develop an area-wide coalition of parents and other adults working together to implement the SAFE HOMES Parents Network in their homes, schools, and community. As our teens connect through private and public high schools, the Career Center and Forsyth Tech, it gets harder and harder for parents to know our teens' friends and their parents. The SAFE HOMES Parent Network can help us know other parents who share our expectations and who take responsibility for keeping their homes safe from alcohol, drugs and unsecured firearms.
What are our objectives?
- Parents and guardians will supervise all gatherings of youth in their homes or on their property.
- Families will not allow the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs by youth in their homes or on their property.
- Parents who own firearms agree to make sure that weapons are secured and inaccessible to teens or their guests.
- Parents and guardians will know where their children are, will oversee their activities, and will set appropriate expectations and consequences for their behavior.
- Parents and guardians will communicate with and for each other in an effort to encourage safe parties and social gatherings and bring attention to threats to our teens' health and safety.