An effort is underway to expand what’s called “The Dinner Table Project” across Kentucky. The program began in Paducah and encourages sit-down meals at least once per week where families share food and conversation without phones, TVs, or other electronic devices.
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist Samantha Powell is creator of the Kentucky effort. “We already knew that eating together or sharing a meal together does all of these wonderful things like increases academic performance and decreases risks of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and depression,” said Powell.
Powell says conversation starter newsletters are going out to other regional prevention centers in Kentucky. The program currently focuses on elementary aged children, but Powell says there’s interest in growing The Dinner Table Project to include high school students.
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