"Prevention must start in the home…parents need to play the major role in preventing their kids from using alcohol." —Mikey L. Hoeven

Introducing Mikey L. Hoeven, First Lady of North Dakota

First Lady Mikey L. Hoeven is a strong advocate for the health and well-being of youth. Mrs. Hoeven, a Co-Chair of  the Leadership initiative, began her active involvement in 2001, when she joined forces with the Parent Communication Network, a clearinghouse of information available to parents through the North Dakota school system. Mrs. Hoeven also launched a statewide advertising campaign in 2001 entitled, “Let’s keep our kids alcohol free,” which entails television and radio ads and a statewide poster campaign geared to children.  Mrs. Hoeven's latest PSA can be viewed here. (Note: this requires Windows Media Player.)

In 2004, Mrs. Hoeven added new partners to her campaign: North Dakota NBC News, and Applebee’s restaurants. In addition, the Moms Offering Moms Support (MOMS) Club of Bismarck released a cookbook, Homemade With Love, whose proceeds went partly to the campaign.

Mrs. Hoeven is active in underage drinking prevention in many other ways. She works with parents, educators, and communities throughout the State to implement the goals of Acting Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. In September 2007, she attended events with the Surgeon General,  including speaking at the 2007 Alcohol & Substance Abuse Summit, and visiting a middle school, in Bismarck. Also in 2007, Mrs. Hoeven spoke at an event, “Face the Fall Without Alcohol,” aimed at bringing parents and youth (7^th- through 10^th-graders) together to combat underage drinking. 

In 2006, she spoke at Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall meetings, recorded a video greeting that was presented at all the Town Hall meetings in the State, delivered a proclamation from Governor Hoeven, and wrote an op-ed article. Earlier, she participated in SAMHSA's Reach Out Now National Teach-In by leading a Teach-In. She also announced a pilot program “AlcoholEdu for High School” for 9th-graders in four schools in Bismarck.

Mrs. Hoeven sits on the Board of North Dakota Teen Challenge, a faith-based ministry designed to help individuals overcome life-controlling strongholds. She is active in women’s health issues as well. She sits on the Advisory Board of the North Dakota Women's Health CORE and hosts two annual statewide Women's Health Summits, which feature nationally known speakers as well as speakers from North Dakota.

View Mrs. Hoeven's full biography.

View Mrs. Hoeven's Leadership and prevention activities in 2008

View Mrs. Hoeven's Leadership and prevention activities in 2001-2007.