LEWISTON – Healthy Androscoggin is offering a free parenting class. “Guiding Good Choices” is a five-session program that gives parents the knowledge and skills needed to guide their children through the teen years.

The program will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 14, at Lewiston High School. Other classes are Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4 and 18. There is no cost for the program and participants will receive a $10 gift certificate if they attend at least four classes. There is also a workbook provided that can be used at home with other family members.

The program is especially helpful for parents of 12- to 15-year-olds. Over the last 20 years, research has shown that positive parental involvement is an important protective factor that increases school success and buffers children against later problems, such as substance abuse, violence and risky sexual behaviors. The program offers strategies, support and simple ideas that help parents through the teen years.

Facilitators will be Vicky Wiegman and Martha Cordioli. Wiegman is the substance abuse coordinator/counselor for the Lewiston School Department. Cordioli is a counselor in private practice in Auburn. Both are parents.

The program is being funded by Healthy Andrsocoggin’s One ME grant, “Stand United for Prevention,” through the Office of Substance Abuse.

Call Healthy Androscoggin to register at 795-5990 or e-mail [email protected]. Other programs will be offered in Auburn starting Jan. 13, Turner starting March 11 and Lisbon starting April 28.