Empowering Our Sons and Daughters … Thoughtful and practical advice to help keep the conversation about underage drinking going as your kids grow.

Description: Military and veteran kids experience unique stressors that may influence their decisions to engage in risky behaviors such as underage drinking. Join MCEC and Responsibility.org as we bring together experts to discuss how talking with your teens and young adults about alcohol early and often is the best way to keep them safe.  Thank you to the Fort Lee Area Spouses Club for their support of this podcast. https://www.fortleeareaspousesclub.com/    Resources: Understanding Youth Substance Use: For Military Parents and Caregivers https://www.nctsn.org/resources/understanding-youth-substance-use-for-military-parents-and-caregivers   NMFA and Bloom Survey https://www.militaryfamily.org/the-military-teen-experience/ Responsibility.org https://www.responsibility.org/   Advice for Parents from Parents  https://www.responsibility.org/prevent-underage-drinking/talking-to-kids-about-alcohol   Advice for Parents from Experts on Talking to Teens   https://www.responsibility.org/prevent-underage-drinking/end-teenage-drinking/parenting-teens/   Conversation Starters https://www.responsibility.org/prevent-underage-drinking   Parents You’re Not Done Yet https://www.responsibility.org/prevent-underage-drinking/responsibility-on-campus/parents-youre-not-done-yet/   Bio:  Tim Farrell, MCEC’s Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO), is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel who served for more than 23 years. Before joining MCEC, Tim served as the CEO of the National Association of Veteran-Serving Organizations (NAVSO), and as COO and interim President & CEO of Operation Homefront. Having balanced his military service and raising his children for many years, Tim has a personal understanding of the difficulties military families face during periods of transition. He is a strong believer in using this experience to serve his community through his work on the World Affairs Council of San Antonio’s Board of Trustees and the City of San Antonio’s Veterans Affairs Commission, as well as his selection as the inaugural board chair of Students of Service (SOS) - San Antonio. Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rutgers University (where he also played college football), a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and an executive certificate in Transformational Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife Gina live in San Antonio with their two sons, Aidan and Keagan.   Chris R. Swonger Chris serves as the President & CEO of both the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Mr. Swonger has extensive experience guiding corporations to lead in business while playing a positive role in communities through proactive engagement. With over 25 years of experience in the public and private sector, Mr. Swonger brings extensive experience breaking down the traditional barriers that exist between corporations, non-government organizations and activist groups by facilitating consensus-based outcomes and knowledge leading industry in corporate social responsibility strategies.   Dr. Katie Friedman is a board-certified pediatrician, writer, spokesperson, and mother. Dr. Friedman completed her residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital at the University of Miami and currently practices pediatric emergency medicine in South Florida. Along with her sisters, she is also a co-founder of ForeverFreckled.com, where she serves as an educator and spokesperson. Using her passion for preventive medicine and pediatric safety, Dr. Friedman has worked alongside several educational initiatives, such as KnowYourOTCs, Talk Early, and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, to guide parents through obstacles of childhood safety, illness prevention, and pediatric medicine. In addition to her hospital work and writing obligations, she also serves as a medical correspondent for Lifetime’s Access Health and The Balancing Act.