(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Public Policy-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Jessica Edwards, Ph.D., Bob Flewelling, Ph.D., and Doug Piper, Ph.D.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is providing support to SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) to evaluate the impact of the SPF SIG project. PIRE, Westat and MayaTech are conducting a five year study of the first two cohorts of funded states scheduled to last until late 2009. The SPF SIG is the first broad-based, data-driven effort that simultaneously attempts to influence both strategic planning and prevention systems at the state and community levels, as well as implement evidence-based prevention interventions in communities. The SPF is built on a community-based risk approach to prevention and guiding principles that can be operationalized at the federal, state or territory, and community levels. Other notable characteristics of the initiative are an emphasis on epidemiologic data with a population-based perspective, an increased emphasis on cultural competence, and a focus on sustainability from the outset. Although the direct recipients of SPF SIG funds are states and territories, CSAP envisions the SPF SIGs being implemented through partnerships between the states or territories and local communities. As a result of this session, conference participants will: (1) understand the underlying rationale and objectives of the state-level evaluation of the National Cross-Site Evaluation of the SPF SIG Project; (2) learn about the state-level infrastructure and implementation attributes that are being investigated as possible determinants (or effects) of successful SPF-SIG implementation; and (3)understand the results of the initial interviews with state-level stakeholders in three areas: state infrastructure for ATOD prevention, implementations of the SPF SIG and the states’ evaluation plans.
Sponsored by CSAP
State and Community Prevention Systems / IOM: Universal
Wayne Harding, Ed.M., Ph.D and Carol McHale, Ph.D.
During the past decade, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and other federal agencies have encouraged states and local communities to use evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs, practices, and strategies. However, because the number of interventions designated as evidence-based is very limited, many times, communities struggle to find interventions that fit local needs or conditions. Also, when they cannot find an evidence-based intervention that fits well, communities may try to improve its fit by making adaptations that may result in decreased effectiveness. To remedy these problems and to encourage innovation in substance abuse prevention, CSAP has funded the “Service to Science” initiative. Begun in 2005, Service to Science (STS) provides innovative and often “locally grown” interventions with free training and customized and intensive technical assistance to improve their evaluation efforts. Every year, Single State Agencies and/or National Prevention Network representatives nominate a new cohort of participating programs. These programs receive training and technical assistance through CSAP’s five regional training and technical assistance centers (Centers for the Application of Prevention Technology or CAPTs). The objective of the Service to Science initiative is to move programs, policies, and practices along a continuum toward improving the evidence about their effectiveness. Acquiring this evidence can help programs refine their design to improve outcomes, achieve formal recognition, and improve their chances of obtaining funding. The long-term Federal objective is to increase the pool of evidence-based interventions available in the field of substance abuse prevention. The target audience for this session is agencies and organizations involved in policymaking to prevent and treat substance abuse, and prevention program developers and evaluators interested in improving the evidence for the effectiveness of their program. As a result of this session, conference participants will be able to: (1) understand how Service to Science operates to assist substance abuse prevention program developers and evaluators improve the quality of their program evaluations; (2) make a more informed decision about recommending a program to STS; (3) make a more informed decision about participating in STS; and (4) determine (as a state or other funder) whether to implement a similar initiative.
Data Based Prevention Planning / IOM: Universal
Mary Kate Mason and Jane Ungemack, Dr. P.H.
The Connecticut Community Readiness Assessment for Substance Abuse Prevention was developed as part of the CSAP-funded Strategic Prevention Framework – State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) initiative, which had identified reduction of underage drinking as the statewide priority. This needs assessment tool was developed to: assess perceived substance use problems at the community level; identify needs for training and technical assistance; develop a tool and methodology the state agency could be used for strategic planning for substance abuse prevention; and provide data to evaluate the impact of the SPF-SIG. A consensus process was used to define the domains of community readiness and develop the data collection tool. Regional planning directors identified key informants in each community and a central clearinghouse disseminated the survey, collected and prepared the data for analysis. Analyses were conducted by academic research partners and the results of the survey were disseminated at the state and regional levels. As a result of this workshop, conference participants will learn: (1) about an innovative statewide survey to measure community readiness for substance abuse prevention based on key informants from each town/municipality; (2) about the process used to develop and implement a statewide survey through collaboration among state agency representatives, researchers, regional planners and other stakeholders representing culturally and geographically diverse populations; and (3) about the results of the Connecticut Community Readiness Assessment and their implications for substance abuse prevention planning in the state.
Sponsored by the US Department of State
Javier Cordova, Alan Moghul, Ph.d., Michael A. Buscemi, M.Ed., Aljandro Vassilaqui, M.S., Luis Solis Rojas, M.D., M.P.H. and Alfonso Abarca
Sharing “best practices” internationally is critical in achieving success in drug prevention and treatment programs worldwide. Learning from the experience of successful programs, including challenges faced and how best practices are identified, can have tremendous impact on the communities being served in each of our countries. This panel will provide the opportunity to share best practices that are being employed by programs in Latin America, as well as learning about methodologies that can be employed to identify and disseminate best practices internationally. Participants will: (1) learn about the best practices employed by these international agencies in preventing and treating drug problems; (2) have a chance to discuss challenges faced by these organizations in the process of implementing best practices and solutions implemented; (3) learn about methodologies that can be utilized to study best practices internationally; (4) be exposed to a case study of an international evaluation of promising practices; and (5) participate in a discussion of how to share best practices between programs so they can be more easily implemented internationally.
Sponsored by the Society of Prevention Research (SPR)
Frontier/Rural-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Brian Bumbarger
PROSPER is a partnership model that links local community prevention teams (representing schools, mental health and substance abuse providers, and other local stakeholders) with University-based prevention researchers through Cooperative Extension. Cooperative Extension is a system that exists in every state and has the unique mission of translating science into practice for the betterment of families and communities. In the PROSPER model, local teams led by Cooperative Extension specialists select from a menu of evidence-based prevention programs aimed at preventing and reducing youth substance abuse. The teams work together, guided by Extension specialists with technical assistance directly from prevention scientists, to implement and sustain these programs. The objectives of PROSPER include: reduced substance (including lower prevalence and delayed initiation); high-quality program implementation; sustainability of both programs and local prevention infrastructure; and increased local capacity around evidence-based prevention. PROSPER has been evaluated in 28 rural communities in Pennsylvania and Iowa, and has encountered issues related to the unique cultural identities of those communities. The session will discuss how the project balanced the needs of local adaptation while maintaining a strong emphasis on implementation fidelity. Conference attendees will learn: (1) about the potential role of the Cooperative Extension System (a national infrastructure that exists in every U.S. county) as a mechanism for delivering evidence-based prevention in rural communities; (2) about the impact of the PROSPER model in delivering high quality and sustained prevention programming to reduce substance use and strengthen families; and (3) effective and practical strategies for recruiting families for universal interventions and promoting implementation quality and fidelity while addressing the potential need for cultural adaptation while sustaining prevention programs and local coalitions.
Underage Drinking-Beginning/Alcohol Industry Advertising – Beginning / IOM: Universal
*Tracy Barrett, Ph.D. and *Janis Kupersmidt
The Media Detective program is a developmentally appropriate, media literacy program designed to prevent or delay the onset of use of alcohol or tobacco products with late elementary school-aged youth. The program consists of 10, 45-minute lessons containing highly interactive classroom activities and homework assignments. There are three main components to the program including teaching basic media literacy skills with a focus on solving the mystery of advertising through learning beginning media deconstruction skills; application of these deconstruction skills to alcohol and tobacco advertising; and production of a media advocacy project focusing on the creation of an alcohol or tobacco counter-ad. The program is designed to: encourage healthy ways of thinking about alcohol and tobacco use; enhance students’ ability to apply critical thinking skills to interpreting media messages, in general, and alcohol and tobacco media messages, in particular; delay or prevent the onset of underage alcohol and tobacco use; and show creation of an evidence-based program that could be flexibly used across third through fifth grades. Conference attendees will: (1) be introduced to the problem of underage drinking in relation to media literacy as well as media literacy as a substance abuse prevention approach with elementary school-aged children; (2) be introduced to the Media Detective program, a new developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, media literacy, substance abuse prevention program for use with middle school-aged children, as well as the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program; and (3) practice some media literacy skills from the Media Detective program as applied to alcohol advertising.
Cultural/Ethnicity-Beginning / IOM: Selective
Caroline Cruz
Indian and minority people have been conducting, implementing, and doing practices for years that have been shown to be effective within their own communities. Yet, Indian and minority practices have not been able to be scientifically validated. The question to ask here is “Do we have culturally relevant tools to measure what we do in Indian and minority communities?”, “Should we be the ones to validate our programs from a culturally relevant perspective?” These questions will be discussed from the presenter’s perspective and experience. Conference participants will: (1) have an understanding of the challenges Native Americans and minorities face with “Evidence Based Practices”; (2) have an understanding of work in process with current efforts culturally validating “Practices Based On Evidence” for Native American communities; (3) have an opportunity to test a tool being considered to measure Tribal practices currently been implemented in Native American communities.; (4) be able to explain the fundamental differences between scientific validation/replication and cultural validation/replication; and (5) be able to apply a learning tool to validate cultural practices.
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Substance Abuse Prevention Among Older Adults / IOM: Indicated
*Steven Liga, MSW, LSW, LCADC, CPS and *Diane Liga
The Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) Program is a substance abuse prevention program targeting older adults created by the New Jersey Prevention Network (NJPN) and implemented locally by NJPN member agencies throughout New Jersey. WISE promotes health through education concerning high-risk behaviors in older adults. The WISE Program is designed to help older adults in New Jersey celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices and avoid substance abuse. The curriculum is designed to take place once per week over a six-week period. Conference participants will learn: (1) how constant evaluation and use of the Strategic Prevention Framework were utilized to develop a research-based program to promote healthy aging in older adults experiencing life transitions; (2) intervention techniques that have been found to work with older adults and those that have proven to be ineffective or problematic; (3) how the Health Belief Model was used to ground a healthy-aging program that goes far beyond medication awareness to the point where older adults experience confidence when taking charge of their own health and their relationships with their healthcare providers; and (4) issues of Generational Diversity will be included with the traditional concepts of cultural diversity to explore the negative biases that older adults have internalized about themselves and how to reframe those biases into a genuine celebration of aging.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
W. Richard Kite, Ph.D.
Knowledge of how local youth gain access to alcohol is essential information for planning community-based initiatives aimed at preventing or reducing underage drinking. This session will present the findings of a two-phase study designed to identify the pathways and circumstances of youth access to alcohol within each of three prevention service regions of Orange County, CA and also describe the strategic application of these findings in launching multi-faceted underage drinking prevention initiatives in three targeted communities. Study results will be presented with reference to the prevalence and frequency of underage drinking and the normative (parental and youth attitudes re: underage drinking) and methodological (source, strategy and setting) pathways that enable youth to gain easy access to alcohol. Regional differences in these variables will be related to socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of the regional populations. Description of the application of these results in ongoing community-prevention initiatives will include media campaigns to increase community awareness of problems related to underage drinking, media advocacy, educational presentations, town hall meetings, and community organizing to support the development of local strategies and policies that can impede the pathways of youth access to alcohol (social host ordinance). Conference attendees will gain knowledge of: (1) a replicable research methods and tools for assessing youth access to alcohol; (2) the major pathways (normative and methodological) of youth access to alcohol that enable underage drinking; (3) the application of research findings in three community initiatives to reduce underage drinking ; and (4)regional differences regarding certain study variables will be related to socioeconomic and socio-cultural characteristics of the regional populations in a culturally-sensitive manner.
Cultural/Ethnicity-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Gilberto Pérez Jr., MSW
The Bienvenido curriculum is a strengths-based educational curriculum to enhance awareness of mental health, clarify a participant’s personal goals for an enhanced quality of life, and develop skills to reduce risk for emotional and behavioral risks associated with mental distress. Each module of the nine week Bienvenido curriculum provides information about topics related to development and sustenance of mental health and enhanced quality of life. Modules are ordered to first introduce participants to potentially new knowledge about mental health, clarify their understanding of risk and protective factors associated with mental health and quality of life, and develop skills to enhance effective social functioning and community integration. Acculturative stresses and local values of cultural diversity are topics that provide examples of on-going risks for emotional distress, and potentially adverse behavioral consequences. Participants are encouraged to describe their immigration experience, and group discussion provides acknowledgement and support. Conference attendees will have an opportunity to: (1) learn steps taken by a community mental health center in developing a prevention program for Latino immigrants; (2) gain understanding of the Bienvenido Program content and related outcomes; (3) understand an empowerment model approach taken in developing the Bienvenido Program; and (4) receive data from program evaluation conducted in 2006-2007.
Sponsored by CSAP
State and Community Prevention Systems / IOM: Universal
Mike Lowther, MA
This presentation examines real-life examples of how SAMHSA infrastructure grants have helped States develop systematic approaches and expand their capacity to support the development or enhancement of local prevention systems that are able to achieve and sustain population-level outcomes over time. The topic would be addressed through a panel presentation from communities, facilitated by CSAP. Community panelists will represent local coalitions who have developed comprehensive prevention system infrastructure and achieved substantive prevention outcomes due to State infrastructure development supported through funding and technical assistance from SAMHSA. Conference participants will learn: (1) about the strategies SAMHSA/CSAP is using to support the development of State-level prevention system infrastructure that can help build local-level capacity to achieve and sustain prevention outcomes over time; and (2) how community coalitions have benefited from State capacity development initiatives, including enhanced training and technical assistance, to develop systematic responses to achieve sustainable, population–based substance abuse prevention outcomes at the local level.
Sponsored by the Society of Prevention Research (SPR)
Community Prevention Systems – Advanced / IOM: Universal
Michael Arthur, Ph.D., Sondra Borth, Milo Berry and Craig L. PoVey, MSW, LCSW
Communities That Care (CTC) is science-based strategic prevention planning system for communities that includes training and technical assistance in each of the steps in SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework: Prevention Needs Assessment; Community Mobilization and Capacity Building; Strategic Prevention Program Planning; Implementation of Tested, Effective Prevention Strategies; and Monitoring and Evaluation. In the Community Youth Development Study (CYDS), six training workshops and ongoing technical assistance were provided to 12 communities randomly assigned to the intervention condition to mobilize a community planning board in each community and to guide these boards through each step in the framework. The 12 communities also received technical assistance in implementing the CTC framework, funding for a full-time community coordinator, and seed money to implement selected tested, effective prevention strategies starting in the spring of 2003 and continuing through the spring of 2008. Participating communities have conducted the CTC Youth Survey every other year and have received reports from the survey including profiles of substance use, delinquent behavior, and risk and protective factors reported by students. The CYDS achieved high fidelity implementation of the CTC in each of the 12 intervention communities. The audience will learn the following: (1) how the Community Youth Development Study (CYDS), a randomized, controlled trial of CTC, has found significant early effects of the CTC intervention on community prevention services systems and on youths' experiences and behaviors; (2) how the CYDS technical support and program implementation monitoring system supported high fidelity implementation of evidence-based prevention programs in participating communities; (3) how community coalitions in 2 communities have sustained the Communities That Care prevention system and evidence-based prevention programming following the end of funding from the CYDS; and (4) how one state is working to apply lessons learned from the CYDS to support high quality implementation of CTC and evidence-based programs in communities throughout the state. Each presentation will include discussion of how issues of cultural competency/ethnicity have been addressed in the study and participating communities.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
Kerrilyn Scott-Nakai and Lance Segars, Ph.D.
In 2004, thirteen California County AOD offices received State Incentive Grants (SIG) through a competitive bid process. The three-year initiative was funded by the Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention (CSAP) and administered by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP). The purpose of the California SIG initiative was to employ evidence-based environmental prevention practices to reduce binge drinking and related problems among 12 to 25 year olds. An additional goal of the effort was to develop and sustain statewide and local policies, systems, and infrastructures to foster long-term sustainability. Conference participants will: (1) gain an understanding of the California State Incentive Grant (SIG) environmental prevention model to reduce binge drinking and it’s alignment with the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF); (2) increased awareness of evidence-based and culturally competent environmental strategies for addressing binge drinking in a variety of community settings (integrating cultural, demographic, geographic, and environmental risk differences); and (3) learn to identify feasible and measurable outcomes for environmental prevention approaches to reduce binge drinking in applied settings (including urban and rural communities).
Repeated in Session 3H
Sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Social Marketing-Intermediate/Prescription/Over the Counter Drug Abuse – Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Gem Benoza and Karen G. Hall, CPP
As illicit teen drug abuse declines, prescription drug abuse continues to increase. Now, teen abuse of prescription drugs is greater than the abuse of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and ecstasy combined. The prescription drug abuse problem is multi-faceted, but parents’ response can often be quite simple – limit access to reduce diversion and abuse. Unlike many “street drug” problems, this is a substance abuse issue that parents can directly affect, and once they understand the nature of the problem and learn some key tips, parents are quite motivated on this issue. To motivate parents to safeguard their prescriptions and talk to their teens about prescription drug abuse, we must raise awareness and relevance of this issue among parents. Because 70% of prescription drug abusers get these drugs from “social sources” (including the family medicine cabinet) educating parents about how to reduce access and availability of these drugs should have a significant effect on usage rates. Also, we know that youth whose parents express strong disapproval of drug use are far less likely to engage in substance use, so educating the parents on the dangers should decrease the behavior as well. On February 4th, 2008, The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign launched a new campaign to educate parents, medical and school professionals about the problem of teen prescription drug abuse. Some highlights include: two television ads, running on 27 networks nationwide for more than two months; an Open Letter print ad to parents, endorsed by organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics; running in 43 newspapers across the country, as well as 4 national magazines; two Open Letter print ads targeting health and school professionals in medical and education publications running for 2 months; targeted messages attached to prescription drug bags for commonly abused substances in 15,000 pharmacies nationwide during February and March. Conference participants will: (1) understand the current scope of the problem including the data on differences in usage rates for gender and ethnicity; (2) learn the teen and parent perspectives on Rx abuse; and (3) learn to employ the latest strategies on reaching out to parents to motivate action and reduce access.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
*Jeanie Alter, Ph.D., and *Amy Drever, MSW
Afternoons ROCK in Indiana is an evidence-based after-school drug prevention program for Hoosier youth aged 10 – 14 years. Youth benefit from structured recreation as well as academic and social skills development in a safe and supervised environment. In place since 1998, Afternoons ROCK in Indiana began implementing evidence-based programs in 2006 in an effort to increase positive outcomes. The aim of Afternoons ROCK in Indiana is to increase perceptions of harm and decrease perceptions of peer approval associated with drug use, which is intended to reduce prevalence of use among Indiana youth. Conference attendees will: (1) understand the delivery model of Afternoons ROCK in Indiana and the implementation of evidence-based programs; (2) identify the effect of evidence-based programs on data for monthly alcohol and cigarette use; and (3) describe the support for continuation of implementing evidence-based programs in the field of prevention.
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Early Childhood ATOD Prevention – Beginning / IOM: Universal
*Jennifer Talarico
Healthy Alternatives for Little Ones (HALO), helps children ages three to six understand the complexities of “health” and “healthy choices” by putting these abstract concepts in concrete terms they can understand. In HALO, health is defined as growing “bigger, stronger, and better able to think.” Heartland Family Service developed this unique and interactive twelve-unit curriculum ten years ago, and currently supports child care professionals in homes, centers, preschools, and kindergartens by providing the curriculum, training and on-going assistance for free. Once trained, the child care professionals then implement HALO as a part of their individual child care program indefinitely. The HALO curriculum is designed to teach all children between the ages of three and six, but often provides low income children with their only opportunity (in home-based day care, Title XX day care centers, and Head Start programs) to learn these concepts that may not come “naturally” to parents or child care providers. Since its inception, HALO has impacted over 12,000 children across the Omaha Metro and Southwest Iowa. The curriculum is available to day care centers, preschools, after-school programs and child care centers by contacting Heartland Family Service in Omaha, Nebraska. Conference participants will learn: (1) the background and Current Status of HALO - the program’s history and philosophy, attention to servicing the Spanish-speaking and low-income populations and the recent research done on the program and the outcomes of said study; (2) how to implement HALO in your community - establishing a HALO site, funding the program, partnering with local health and prevention agencies, including parents in the prevention education process and reaching out to Spanish-speaking and/or low-income children; and (3) how to assess the progress of prevention efforts through HALO – introducing the official assessment tool called “Bonita Bunny’s Guide to HALO”, gathering feedback from parents in the process and keeping the program’s fidelity.
Sponsored by the Society of Prevention Research (SPR)
Cultural/Ethnicity-Intermediate / IOM: Indicated
Jeremy Goldbach
The project was created to evaluate the importance of cultural adaptations to an evidence based curriculum, keepin’ it REAL. The researcher gave 10 school-base and community settings the opportunity to create unique adaptations to the original curriculum. The adaptations that the youth were encouraged to make were intended to create a higher level of identification with the prevention messages in their peers. Through a structured adaptation process, the youth were encouraged to change language, places and situations in order to more accurately reflect their personal experiences and culture. The original and adapted curricula were administered to groups, along with a delayed treatment comparison group. The objective of this K01 project was to identify the value of utilizing a structured adaptation process to create more culturally grounded prevention interventions. Conference participants will be able to: (1) recognize the value of youth involvement in adaptation as an inroad to their change process; (2)understand the need to choose developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions ; and (3) learn about the possibility for adaptation based on culture, while maintaining fidelity to core components.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Mark Wolfson, Ph.D.
Thirty-four intervention communities (cities) in five states (CA, CT, FL, MO, NY) received funding, intensive technical assistance and, and program oversight to support the implementation of best and most promising practices for reducing underage drinking using an environmental approach. Using a coalition-based approach, each site was expected to achieve the following objectives by the end of the intervention period: implement at least two compliance check operations in at least 90% of off-premise alcohol outlets per year; conduct at least one DWI enforcement operation with a focus on youth; conduct at least one additional enforcement operation (to be selected from the following: alcohol outlet parking lot monitoring/patrolling; enforcement of ordinances focused on parents and landlords who permit underage drinking parties to take place; education of parents, landlords about their rights and responsibilities related to underage drinking parties on their property; train officers to promote better enforcement; conduct “shoulder tap” operations); and adopt at least one new institutional or public policy (or improvement in at least one existing policy) related to underage drinking (from a specified list of policies that have been identified as promising or effective practices). Conference participants will be able to: (1) describe the program definition and benchmarks used to support evidence based environmental prevention efforts conducted as part of the EUDL randomized community trial; and (2) explain how this program definition and these benchmarks could be adapted to their own work, as funder, TA and training provider, program implementer, or program provider. Cultural competency issues will be addressed by examining how the EUDL CT program definition was adapted across 34 communities in five states, which varied in ethnic, racial, cultural, and socio-economic makeup.
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced / IOM: Universal
Mike Lowther, Michelle Nienhius, MPH, Brenda J. Davis Rowe, Ph.D., and Keith R. Hotle
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the work and enforcement in States and U.S. Jurisdictions related to reducing youth access to tobacco. This responsibility culminates in the Synar program, an environmental substance abuse prevention strategy in which the focus on solving substance-related problems shifts from the individual to the settings in which the substance is available, and includes performance management and monitoring system. SAMHSA has found that States meeting their Synar goals generally employ a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, combining with Synar responsibilities vigorous enforcement efforts, political support from State government, a climate of active social norms that discourage youth tobacco use, and well coordinated tobacco access control programs. States’ success in decreasing youth access to tobacco prompts us to take a closer look at the components of comprehensive tobacco control efforts that can be used to address the epidemic of underage drinking. A panel of State representatives from South Carolina, Wyoming and Georgia will be on hand to discuss how they’ve applied comprehensive Tobacco Control strategies to the development of Alcohol Control strategies and performance management and monitoring systems for the prevention of underage drinking in their States. Conference participants will: (1) review performance management principles and corresponding Tobacco Control and Synar strategies and how they apply to Underage Drinking; (2) learn about comprehensive Alcohol Control and Underage Drinking strategies being implemented in States -- South Carolina and Georgia -- that will include discussion of the development of the States’ performance management and monitoring systems, as well as implementation issues and costs involved; and (3) be able apply the Underage Drinking strategies used by the State panel to develop a comprehensive Underage Drinking effort and performance management system in their own States.
Underage Drinking-Beginning / IOM: Universal
*Dennis Embry, Ph.D. and *Sherry Wong
Evidence-based kernels are the smallest units of behavioral influence that underlie effective prevention and treatment. A kernel is a behavior-influence procedure shown through experimental analysis to affect a specific behavior. Evidence-based kernels can be used by parents, educators, or other adults who influence children and youth. There are over 50 evidence-based kernels already documented and the list is growing. These low-cost or no-cost strategies can be used to complement school-based programs, such as Second Step: Student Success Through Prevention, extending the reach of school-based programs to parents and other community members, and increasing the prevention effects of social and emotional curricula. Kernels can be adapted to every cultural group. Evidence-based kernels aim to reduce health care costs, improve community safety, reduce substance abuse, and increase academic success by making prevention available for everyone. The goals of Second Step: Student Success Through Prevention are to reduce violence and aggression, substance abuse, and bullying and to increase school success. Conference participants will be able to: (1)describe how evidence-based kernels can be integrated with a universal school-based prevention curriculum for early adolescents to strengthen prevention effects; (2) explain the importance of multiple, flexible prevention approaches to address the diverse needs of early adolescents, and the families, schools, and communities who influence them; and (3) outline how evidence-based kernels change brain chemistry related to substance abuse and multi-problem behavior, from an evolutionary psych perspective unique to human teens and their challenges, and why curriculum alone cannot create sustainable population-level prevention.
System Evaluation / IOM: Universal
Trina Ragain, Kim Fornero and Beth Welbes
The Substance Abuse Prevention Program in Illinois serves a diverse population of youth in rural, urban, suburban and inner-city environments. The prevention approaches selected for implementation in the 100+ funded communities are chosen based upon the specific characteristics and needs of the local population. The Readiness for Outcome Evaluation (ROE) review process has been designed and refined over the past 6 years to provide a fair and consistent assessment of program implementation, taking into account the demographic characteristics of the communities served. The ROE review is a biannual process that was initiated in 2002 to identify how to utilize the limited evaluation resources available within the Substance Abuse Prevention Program (SAPP) in a more strategic manner. Several goals have been established for the ROE review process, including: to provide a biannual measurement of program implementation quality for each evidence-based prevention approach implemented under the SAPP, establishing a longitudinal performance record for each SAPP grantee; and identify high quality implementation by SAPP grantees for the purpose of targeting outcome evaluation resources to the most stable prevention programs. -Provide system-level performance data on each evidence-based prevention approach supported by the SAPT Block Grant. Conference attendees will be able to: (1) identify the criteria utilized in Illinois to evaluate the implementation of evidence-based prevention approaches by Substance Abuse Prevention Program grantees; (2) discuss how the criteria are relevant to diverse cultural contexts; and (3) describe how the data gathered during the review process is utilized at the site-level and state-level to inform decision-making.
Sponsored by NIDA
Liz Robertson
This session will discuss the process used in developing the NIDA publications titled: Preventing Drug Abuse among Children and Adolescents. The goal of the project is to identify principles of prevention that are related to risks for and protection from drug abuse and associated problem behaviors, to identify principles of prevention for planning programs, policies and practices appropriate for a variety of contexts and to identify principles of prevention related to the successful delivery and sustainability of prevention programs, policies and practices. Conference participants will be able to: (1) describe the processes involved in identifying and validating principles of prevention; (2) identify existing principles of prevention and be able to give examples of what they mean; and (3) identifying emerging principles of prevention.
Repeat of Session 2G
Sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Social Marketing-Intermediate/Prescription/Over the Counter Drug Abuse – Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Gem Benoza and Karen G. Hall, CPP
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Work Force Development / IOM: Universal
Michelle Nienhius, MPH, and Steven Burritt, MPH
With support from CSAP and a federally provided consultant, the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and local prevention professionals have undertaken a two-year process to create a workforce development plan that addresses the issue of high turnover and what could strengthen retention of quality employees. The presenters will explain: Who was involved in the process; what aspects were included in the plan; what final recommendations were developed; findings and research on turnover that were developed; how target audiences were determined; and how our federal consultant assisted the state in the process. The audience will gain an understanding of the South Carolina prevention workforce development initiative, which includes addressing retention incentives, costs of turnover, certification preparation, training offerings, salary equity, and creative methods of prevention staff supervision across agencies. In addition, the audience will learn about key findings regarding turnover and retention and discuss ideas on how to market these findings to decision-makers. The session will address cultural competency/ethnicity by discussing how variations in costs of living and local availability of qualified candidates impact workforce development.
Repeated in Session 5I
Social Marketing-Advanced/IOM: Universal
Dennis Embry, Ph.D., and David Neri
The community mobilization effort involved a three prong strategy for the community and target neighborhoods by creating hope; facilitating community speeches and workshops emphasizing practical strategies for prevention, intervention and treatment and conducting neighborhood mobilization emphasizing practical strategies for neighbors building community. Conference participants will: (1) learn how to integrate science, law enforcement and social marketing to address serious problems such as methamphetamine to induce key principles of effective social marketing; and (2) understand key principles to reduce risk messages that reinforce stereotypes and prejudice against different cultural groups.
Sponsored by CSAP
Underage Drinking-Advanced / IOM: Universal
Gwyndolyn Ensley, M.Ed., and Tony Foleno
The SAMHSA-Ad Council Start Talking Before They Start Drinking (STBTSD) initiative is a traditional multimedia public education campaign that frames the issue of underage alcohol use and motivates parents to discuss alcohol use with their children. STBTSD is an element of SAMHSA’s Health Communications Initiative for the Prevention of Underage Alcohol Use. The goal is to educate parents and other adult caregivers about their influence over children’s decisions regarding alcohol use and equip them to act accordingly; and mobilize communities to develop and enforce effective policies to prevent underage alcohol use. Conference participants will : (1) recognize the benefits of effective health communications in preventing underage alcohol use; and (2) understand the value of community-driven awareness-raising and mobilization through a nationally coordinated strategy for multiple cultural/ethnic audiences, including use of Spanish-language training and materials.
State Prevention Infrastructure / IOM: Universal
Peter Mulhall, Ph.D., and Janine Toth, MSSW
The Best Practices Institute, Leadership Program for Prevention Policy Makers (BPI) is a unique program for government officials who are prevention policymakers. BPI is a yearlong experience in which participants learn together about evidence-based practices and policies, leadership dilemmas, and receive support and assistance on special projects that they conduct. BPI was developed to address and reduce fragmentation in the prevention delivery system and increase the use of best practices in decision making by program administrators and managers in the areas of program conception, implementation and evaluation in Illinois. BPI is designed to create a dynamic learning community and resource mechanism for a selected cohort of administrators and coordinators of Illinois prevention programs and services. Conference participants will be able to: (1) identify factors compelling the need for a BPI type of experience; (2) identify elements of a Leadership Program designed to reduce fragmentation and increase the use of evidence based practices in a statewide prevention delivery system; (3) examine how cultural competency plays a critical role in the identification, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based programs, policies and practices; and (4) examine and contribute to the evolution of the Best Practices Institute, Leadership Program for Prevention Policy makers.
Cultrual/Ethnicity-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Robin Cox
In designing tobacco merchant education materials the Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) Tobacco Prevention & Enforcement Program (TPEP) acknowledges that individuals understand and retain information best in their native language. With this in mind, the TPEP has enhanced their tobacco merchant education services through interagency collaboration, youth involvement, community involvement and data collection through unannounced tobacco compliance inspections. Conference participants will learn: (1) how DMHAS compliance inspection data is used to identify special populations for crafting merchant education guidelines; (2) how to enhance tobacco merchant education through interagency collaboration, youth involvement, and community action; and (3) how culturally responsive merchant education materials engender compliance to enforcement laws.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
Marc Bolan and Inga Manskopf
Using the data-based decision-making required of SPF-SIG communities, the 12 Washington SPF-SIG communities identified risk and protective factors that exist in their communities. Because there are no specific risk or protective factors that correspond with environmental prevention efforts – a requirement for Washington State SPF-SIG communities – the list of risk and protective factors was expanded to include three environmental variables – availability of alcohol and access to alcohol, enforcement and promotion. The set of variables, including risk and protective factors, was renamed “Intervening Variables.” Based on Harold Holder’s work, we then asked Washington SPF-SIG projects to explain why they thought the intervening variables existed in their communities. Their observations essentially identified behaviors, practices, or beliefs that they believed contributed to the presence of the intervening variables. Some of these “contributing factors” are measurable with existing data. For others, it will be necessary to devise measurement and evaluation systems as the project proceeds. The communities were then asked to determine which contributing factors influenced which intervening variables. Some contributing factors influenced multiple intervening variables. Identifying these relationships resulted in the creation of a relationship “map.” Through use of the map, it became more possible to identify strategies that need to be implemented in order to positively impact the contributing factor and, ultimately, positively impact the community’s intervening variables. The presentation will feature some of the tools used to ensure a match between possible strategies and the community’s contributing factors and population characteristics. Conference participants will be able to describe: (1) the relationship between intervening variables (risk and protective factors) and contributing factors; (2)the relationship between strategy selection and contributing factors; and (3)how local evaluation models were built for the 12 Washington State SPF-SIG communities.
Glen Hanson
This session is designed to help attendees recognize that basic neurobiological science has the potential to dramatically influence the future of prevention; however, these tools must be used carefully by informed clinicians. Attendees will learn: 1) to appreciate the power and complexity of genetics in drug addiction and how it might contribute to the future of prevention; and 2) how to recognize the drawback to these approaches when their potential and application is misunderstood.
Violence Prevention / IOM: Universal
Susan Armoni, Ph.D.
Peers Making Peace (PMP) is a peer-mediation program developed to help create and maintain safe and drug free schools by equipping students with attitudes and skills to stay drug-free, stay in school and avoid violence by resolving conflicts in a peaceful, prosocial manner. The goal of the program is to improve the school environment by reducing violence, assaults, discipline referrals, and increasing academic performance. In the PMP intervention, teams of student volunteers are trained to serve as drug free role models and “neutral third parties” to provide mediation services for their peers who lack the skills to successfully resolve their conflicts. The program is based on two parallel philosophical foundations: a strong “no use” message, and the “resiliency and protective factor” approach to prevention. PMP is recognized as a U.S. Department of Education Promising Program, a Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Exemplary Program and an OJJDP Model Program. Conference participants will: (1) increase their understanding of the factors that contribute to school violence and substance use and abuse; (2) increase their understanding of the importance of involving youth in preventing violence and substance abuse ; (3) increase the awareness of resources at hand to assist them in undertaking effective prevention efforts; (4) discuss the development of the Peers Making Peace program; (5) take an in-depth look at the evaluation of Peers Making Peace and its contributions to the service to science movement in prevention; and (6) discuss the growing pains and future goals of the Peers Making Peace program.
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Underage Drinking-Advanced / IOM: Universal
Richard Cervantes, Ph.D., and Tony Rey, Ph.D.
This presentation will highlight the development of the Texas Environmental Strategies Instrument (ESI) used in the state’s SPF evaluation. In addition the presentation will present findings from the baseline ESI data collection in SPF funded communities throughout the state of Texas for 2007. Developed by researchers at Behavioral Assessment, Inc (BAI), the Environmental Strategies Instrument closes the data gap between environmental strategies and the SPF SIG seven intervening variables (Retail Access, Low Enforcement, Social Access, Perceived Risk, Social Norms, Alcohol Promotion, and Pricing) and SAMHSA National Outcome Measures (NOMs). As the Texas statewide evaluator, Behavioral Assessment, Inc. (BAI) used the Environmental Strategies Instrument (ESI) with the Texas State Incentive Program (TSIP) in 2004 and 2005, and more recently in the 2007 Texas Strategic Prevention Framework (SAMHSA/CSAP) project evaluation. The ESI tool was revised in 2006 to ensure that it is appropriate for use as a measure of the seven intervening variables within the SPF strategy to reduce and prevent alcohol related fatalities by impacting known “intervening variable” (Retail Access, Low Enforcement, Social Access, Perceived Risk, Social Norms, Alcohol Promotion, and Pricing). Conference attendees will: (1) review research findings from recent Texas SPF statewide survey of environmental strategies, causal and consequences of underage drinking; (2) gain information on the validity and reliability of the Texas Environmental Strategies Instrument to capture SPF intervening variable constructs; and (3) gain knowledge of environmental factors related to binge and underage drinking in high risk communities. This presentation will also focus on the impact of intervening variables in multi-ethnic and multiracial communities. Our findings will be presented using age and cross cultural comparisons and data analytic techniques.
Workforce Development / IOM: Universal
Julie Stevens, CPS, and Pam Rush CPS
International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) provides alcohol and drug counseling and prevention professional certifications. The IC&RC prevention credential is in use in 46 states, countries and all branches of the U.S. military. IC&RC and its members are committed to public protection through the establishment of quality, competency-based certification programs for professionals engaged in the prevention and treatment of addictions and related problems. The organization also promotes the establishment and recognition of minimum standards to provide reciprocity for certified professionals. While the former CPS exam performance domains and associated task statements did reflect the scope of practice for the profession of Prevention Specialist, some of the task statements were written at a performance level that exceeded that which would be expected of an entry level ATOD Prevention Specialist. Therefore, the pass rate for the former exam was much lower than was desired to allow certification of entry level ATOD Prevention Specialists. Our objective was to revise the CPS exam to more accurately reflect the tasks of ATOD Prevention Specialists. This workshop will discuss the recent Role Delineation Study (Job Task Analysis), how the new Certified Prevention Specialist Exam was developed, and how the exam has performed in its first few administrations. Conference participants will gain knowledge of: (1) the process utilized to revise the Certified Prevention Specialist Exam; (2) the current Prevention Specialist Examination Role Delineation Study and will examine the Performance Domains, Job tasks, Knowledge, Skill, Attitude statements, validation Survey Results, and Examination Blueprint; (3) how the certification exam is an important piece in workforce development.
Underage Drinking-Beginning / IOM: Universal
Keith King, Ph.D., CHES, and Rebecca Vidourek, M.Ed., CHES
This presentation will discuss the results from the Greater Cincinnati youth alcohol and other drug use survey. A total of 54,366 youth (grades 7-12) were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward and involvement in underage drinking. Age of initiation, frequency of use, patterns of use and associated factors were examined. Several variables were identified as protective factors to underage drinking. This presentation will discuss these findings as well as provide information on the results of other recent studies regarding the protective factors and evidence-based strategies to prevent underage drinking. The importance of family, school and community connectedness and how to build positive connections among youth will be addressed, while specific emphasis will be placed on the implications of the latest research findings and how they relate to evidence-based strategies. At the conclusion of the presentation, conference attendees will be able to: (1) identify key evidence-based strategies to prevent underage drinking; (2) discuss the latest research findings regarding underage drinking prevention; (3) explain the relationship between underage drinking and perceived family, school and community connectedness; and (4) discuss protective factors associated with underage drinking and their implications for prevention.
Cultrual/Ethnicity-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
Marla Bull Bear MA, CMT, ADS, RT and Mary Ann Coupland Ph.D., LP
The Native American Advocacy Program was established 15 years ago as a culturally appropriate community program that assisted Native Americans with disabilities and Native American youth by: promoting a healthy lifestyle, providing prevention, education, training, advocacy, support, independent living skills, and referrals. From this mission, the Lakota teca ki wiotacan ki unspeic’iciyapa (Lakota Youth Leadership Camp) and Sloliciya Hocoka (Knowing Your Place in the Circle) were established. The purpose of the youth gatherings is to develop and build on the necessary cultural skills of effective Lakota youth leadership and recovery that empower the youth as they acquire the cultural resiliency and leadership qualities and skills needed to survive in today’s world. Conference participants will learn how to help Native American youth live their culture in a contemporary world by the reestablishment of our traditional youth societies, coming of age ceremonies, youth activities, and community supports systems.
Public Policy-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Rudy Rodriguez, MBA, CIS, and Melinda Norman
The conceptual framework of the Web Based Prevention System was introduced to the field in January, 2006. Over 200 people from the county Alcohol and Drug Addiction Mental Health Services/Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Boards (ADAMHS/ADAS) and prevention provider systems volunteered to participate along with ODADAS in the development of the system. Once the development was complete, a pilot phase was implemented including 11 of our 50 ADAMHS/ADAS Board and their prevention providers as well as 100+ Prevention grantees. There have been well over 200 enhancements to the system as a result of the feedback received from the participants in the pilot. The next Phase of implementation was the roll out of the WBPS to the remainder of the boards and providers across the state. All prevention providers in Ohio will be utilizing the Web Based Prevention System as of July 1, 2008. The Ohio Web Based Prevention System was developed to collect data that, addresses cultural competency, identifies partnerships and collaborations, corresponds to identified community need and meets state and federal reporting requirements. Conference participants will: (1) learn about Ohio’s Web Based Prevention System; (2) gain knowledge regarding Ohio’s “Investor Targets” and how they have been aligned with the NOMS to assist in collecting the data needed for SAPT Block Grant reporting; and (3)gain knowledge regarding the utilization of standardized reports to demonstrate outcomes, needs and return on investment.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Indicated
*Ray Daugherty
The Lifestyle Risk Reduction Model integrates findings from biological, psychological, and social research and is particularly well suited to serving indicated prevention audiences—those who are engaging in high-risk behaviors but are not yet in need of treatment. Research goals and objectives for the PRIME For Life programs include both attitude and behavioral measures. Evaluations on participants who have received PRIME For Life have consistently shown increases in attitudes associated with abstaining and making low-risk choices, reductions in risky beliefs, and intentions to reduce high risk alcohol and drug use. The Lifestyle Risk Reduction Model specifies three measurable behavioral goals. While each may not be equally acceptable to all people (due to differing value systems), all three of these goals will reduce risk, and are therefore important goals for prevention professionals to pursue. Conference participants will: (1) explore common elements that underage drinking prevention efforts share with other prevention audiences; (2) learn evidence-based strategies that prevent underage drinking and reduce recidivism with underage drinkers who are already making high-risk choices; and (3)explore outcomes of younger teens, older teens, and adults receiving the same intervention.
Sponsored by CADCA
State and Coalition Collaborations / IOM: Universal
*Evelyn Yang and *Ann Landy, Ph.D.
This session will offer state and local perspectives on implementing SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework along with a discussion regarding how two SPF models complement each other and areas for greater alignment needed to ensure comprehensive prevention work at the state and local levels that can collectively and synergistically achieve population-level decreases in substance abuse rates. Conference attendees will: (1) learn about the process for assessing the fidelity of the strategic prevention framework implementation at the community level; (2) learn about the model used by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) National Coalition Institute (Institute) to train coalitions in the Core Competencies needed to implement the Strategic Prevention Framework at the local level, focusing on what coalitions need to know, what they need to do, and the products they need to create; and (3) discuss points of intersection between the two models and how state and coalition SPF efforts can better complement each other in order to achieve population-level change.
Repeated in Session 6I
Program Evaluation of a Prevention Program / IOM: Selective
*Donna Becker, M.S., *Carol Kuntz, and *Carl Fertman, Ph.D.
The Elementary Youth Support Program (EYSP), developed by the Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Lancaster County Pennsylvania twenty years ago, is a unique school-based, small-group early intervention/prevention program for students in grades 1-5 at risk for future substance abuse and other health-damaging behaviors. This program is known to the students and faculty as Caring and Sharing group. For the past three years, the Council has been working to strengthen the evaluative process of EYSP as it moves forward to become a model, evidence-based program. EYSP’s belief is that: all children have the right to a sense of well-being which is to be provided by their environment. This includes adults they can trust, a sense of belonging, caring and acceptance, healthy peer relationships, and personal success. Children who are not experiencing a sense of well-being have the right to additional support and guidance to meet their needs. And children whose basic needs are met in their formative years are less likely to engage in health-damaging behaviors. EYSP serves a diverse population of students in urban, suburban and rural settings. The conference attendee will: (1) gain an understanding of the evaluation process undertaken by an established program to become evidence-based, including a study of the evaluative tools utilized; (2) learn how to overcome the obstacles of sustaining a school-based, pull-out program for a culturally diverse population (Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, Multiracial) while schools deal with the pressures of the mandates set by the No Child Left Behind Act; and (3) develop an understanding of the importance of maintaining fidelity of a long-term program while continuing to meet the changing and varied needs of a culturally diverse student population.
Repeat of Session 4B
Social Marketing-Advanced/IOM: Universal
Dennis Embry, Ph.D., and David Neri
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Underage Drinking-Beginning/Alcohol Industry Advertising – Beginning / IOM: Universal
*Janis Kupersmidt and *Tracy Barrett, Ph.D.
The Media Ready program is a middle school, media literacy program designed to prevent or delay the onset of use of alcohol or tobacco products. The program consists of 10, 45-minute lessons containing highly interactive classroom activities and homework assignments. There are three main components to the program including teaching basic media literacy skills with a focus on deconstruction of advertising; application of these deconstruction skills to alcohol and tobacco ads; and production of a media advocacy project focusing on the creation of an alcohol or tobacco counter-ad. This workshop will: (1) introduce participants to the problem of underage drinking in relation to media literacy as well as media literacy as a substance abuse prevention approach; (2) introduce participants to the Media Ready program, a new evidence-based, middle school, media literacy, substance abuse prevention program, as well as the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program; and (3) practice some media literacy skills as applied to alcohol advertising.
Sponsored by NPN and SPR
John Ernst, NPN New York, Zili Sloboda, Ph.D., SPR President; Debbie Synhorst, NPN President, and Craig L. PoVey, NPN Utah
Over the past five years SPR and NPN have been developing a strong partnership to foster the integration of science and practice. SPR is comprised of an international membership that includes scientists, practitioners, advocates, administrators, and policy makers who are concerned with the prevention of social, physical and mental health problems and the promotion of health, safety, and well-being. The mission for the organization is to advance science-based prevention programs and policies through empirical research. Both NPN and SPR fully understand that the practitioner is critical to achieving this mission. In this workshop participants will learn: (1) about the Society for Prevention Research; (2) the partnership efforts of NPN and SPR; and (3) how to identify and work with SPR members in your state to better integrate science and practice and enhance prevention programming.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
*Brad Krevor, Ph.D. and *Steve Schmidt
The Responsible Retailing Forum (RRF) is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization that has developed an operational model of the recommendations contained in the Report on Best Practices for Responsible Retailing, prepared as a guidance document for CSAP. The intervention model engages in retailers in a quality improvement process in which alcohol (and tobacco) licensees: i. assess current RR practices for hiring, training, supervision and point-of-sales protocols for the sale of age-restricted products; ii. identifies Best Practices that may be absent; iii. provides licensees with resources and mechanisms that may be absent; iv. conducts periodic mystery shopper inspections with young, legal-age inspectors to provide feedback on age-verification conduct, and with “pseudo-intoxicated” actors to provide feedback on refusal to serve intoxicated customers. Additionally, the intervention engages retailers, law enforcement, regulators and public health stakeholders to address the underage drinking and over consumption in the community. Conference participants will: (1) increase understanding of how to engage alcohol beverage licensees in efforts to reduce sales to minors and intoxicated customers; (2) learn a quality improvement process that increases retailer performance in age-verification and refusal of over service of alcohol; and (3) identify specific collaborative activities for prevention agencies, law enforcement and retailers to discourage the use of fake IDs.
Cultural/Ethnicity-Beginning/Continuation (Alternative) High School Youth / IOM: Indicated
*Steve Sussman, Ph.D., FAAHB, FAPA
The theory underlying Project Towards No Drug Abuse (Project TND) is that young people at risk for substance abuse will not use substances if they are aware of misleading information that facilitates substance use, reconcile their own equivocation about their substance use, and appreciate the consequences that substance use may have on their own and others lives. This requires having skills that help them lower their risk for use, including awareness of cessation strategies, and having decision making skills to make personal commitments not to use substances. Goals of the program are to increase knowledge about drug abuse; increase intention not to abuse drugs in the near future; reduce or stop use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana use, and hard drug use (e.g., of speed, vicodin, inhalants, hallucinogens) and to exert an effect on lowering violence victimization and weapons carrying. Conference participants will: (1) understand the circumstances within which Project TND may need to be reinvented some to deal with youth varying in ethnicity or risk for drug abuse, and what aspects of the program are amenable to change; and (2) learn about the theory underlying Project TND, its sessions, current results, and how action research might contribute to improvement regarding understanding the conditions under which the program is relatively likely to exert preventive effects on drug use.
Frontier/Rural-Beginning / IOM: Universal
Bonnie Favero, MA and Katie Connelly
Mobilizing a Community Towards Positive Choices for Youth, (MCTPCY) is a universal strategy that targets middle and high school-aged youth and their caregivers. The program is aimed at reducing ATOD use in 13-20 year-olds in a rural Southside Virginia community that has suffered massive unemployment, high crime rate and favorable attitudes toward the abuse of substances. This program is based on the model program, Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol. For the past five years, MCTPCY has employed multiple prevention strategies, increasing capacity through multi-agency coordination and collaboration, youth leadership development and systematic community planning. The program involves three key components: community mobilization including youth and adult task forces, prevention education, and social norms marketing through a variety of media. A Community Organizer (CO) has structured a coalition of adults, HEY! (Helping Empower Youth) Community Task Force and youth, CHILL (Communities Helping Improve Local Lives) Positive Choices Youth Task Force. These two entities have combined to reduce the use of ATOD through an organized community mobilization. The MCTPCY program is youth-driven, empowering youth to take part in changing norms and policies in their community. Conference participants will: (1) develop a youth outreach plan for recruitment; be able to describe 5 attributes youth bring to the table in coalitions; and (3) gain knowledge of significant projects on which youth can collaborate with adults to effect change on ATOD in the community.
Sponsored by CADCA
Data Systems/Interactive Web Learning / IOM: Universal
Diane Galloway, Ph.D., and Sue Evans
The CADCA Institute engaged in an action research project with Dr. Vincent Francisco at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro to teach 30 community coalitions an web based documentation system to track community and system changes. The 30 coalitions were selected randomly from an applicant pool of 100. The sessions were held fifteen times over nine months via interactive web sessions. The web experience was assessed through on-line surveys and interviews. The project sought to learn how participants experience interactive distance learning and the factors that may contribute to the rate of use of an on-line documentation system. Conference participants will: (1) learn the results of an action research project utilizing interactive web sessions to teach 30 community coalitions an on-line documentation system; (2) see the results of three communities using a web based on-line documentation system that documents community and systems change with inter-observer reliability and tracks community-level indicators at the population level; and (3) gain knowledge of the research of documenting community level changes and tracking population level outcomes over time.
Sponsored by CSAP
Public Policy-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
Patricia Getty, Ph.D., and Callie Gass
Given the estimate of at least 10 per 1000 babies are born yearly with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the lack of focus on the prevention of FASD in the United States is alarming. Between 2003 and 2007, the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence supported 18 subcontractors who integrated evidence-based FASD prevention activities into a variety of existing service delivery systems. Subcontractors developed local advisory bodies, completed needs assessments, and selected an evidence-based intervention to integrate into their service delivery systems. Beginning in 2008, the Center will again support a number of subcontracts integrating evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions. This presentation will focus on the Center’s experience integrating evidence based prevention interventions, such as Project Choices, PCAP, and brief interventions at the state and local level. FASD is one of the few birth defects that is 100% preventable and it is essential that its prevention be a national priority. Conference participants will: (1) understand basic information about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and the singular importance of its prevention; (2) understand the role of the prevention community in reducing the incidence of FASD; (3) learn about specific promising practices—and the data to support the success of those practices— that States and communities can implement to reduce the incidence of FASD; (4) become familiar with policies and practices that can support reductions in the incidence of FASD; and (5) learn about cross-cultural practices and how they can be adapted to increase the success of the interventions.
Underage Drinking-Advanced / IOM: Universal
*Eitan Gorni
The Israel Anti Drug Authority, in cooperation with Cinema Park Network (www.cinema-park.com), has developed an advanced multi-sensory experience, “Addicted to Life”, which conveys the same messages as its long term prevention programs for schools and youngsters in other establishments and settings. The program conveys these messages using advanced media formats, such as 3D projection, elaborate sound and lighting systems, moving seats, and the highlight from a researcher’s perspective: interactive personal remote controls. These allow us to test the audience’s knowledge, to ask for their opinions and for a description of past experience and future intent, regarding substance abuse. This survey is conducted anonymously, as only the aggregated group results appear on the screen for the group and their educators to see. The individual anonymous data (answers) remain private, and are collected by a specially developed computer program. The program is presented in a permanent facility in the center of the country, and it also reaches audiences in remote locations using portable cinema equipment in local halls. Conference participants will: (1) learn about the multi-sensory “Addicted to Life” program, which was developed to serve as a prevention program as well as a tool for conducting a field survey; (2) learn about the process in which the program was tailored to different Israeli target audiences, and how it can be adapted to other communities; and (3) hear about the experience the Israel Anti Drug Authority has had with the program since it was implemented 18 months ago.
Repeat of Session 5H
Program Evaluation of a Prevention Program / IOM: Selective
*Donna Becker, M.S., *Carol Kuntz, and *Carl Fertman, Ph.D.
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Michelle Nienhius, MPH, and Steven Burritt, MPH
The innovative AET programming includes community and law enforcement collaboration involving county alcohol and drug abuse authorities that is being replicated throughout the state of South Carolina. In FY ‘07, the state legislator allocated funds to form AETs in all 16 of the state’s judicial circuits. These AETs are coordinated out of a substance abuse agency in the circuit. The goal of the program is to reduce underage drinking and its related consequences, increase use of underage drinking enforcement best practices in local communities; increase community awareness of underage drinking laws and enforcement. The audience will: (1) gain an understanding of the South Carolina initiative for addressing underage drinking which includes the replication of the Alcohol Enforcement Team (AET) model that is recognized by SAMHSA, CSAP and OJJDP as an innovative strategy to combat underage drinking; (2) understand how the AETs have grown from just a few communities into a statewide movement in state fiscal year 2007; and (3) understand details about the planning, implementation, and evaluation of AETs.
Alcohol not limited to Underage Drinking / IOM: Universal
Barbara Seitz de Martinez, Ph.D., MLS, CPP, and Desiree Goetze, CHES, CPP
Every day we cross multiple borders without even being aware of them – school districts, voting districts, zip codes, and so on. Yet our data is organized by these lines and demarcations. Thousands of Indiana residents live in counties sharing a border with another state. These residents’ lives are impacted by the policies, practices and socioeconomic conditions of their neighbors in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois or Michigan. To ignore this would be foolish, yet our technologies and ways of thinking often work against our ability to take a broader approach. The Indiana Prevention Resource Center (IPRC) has taken steps to better serve those who live near our state lines. This presentation will explain what we have done and why, and will point out the obstacles that has made it difficult to accomplish. The IPRC will show you how we are reaching beyond the borders of Indiana to access available data for neighboring counties and regions and using GIS software to overcome the obstacles inherent in our default resources, infrastructures and ways of thinking. Conference attendees will: (1) better understand the implications of infrastructure for best practices in prevention, e.g., census and other governmental boundaries; (2) recognize the need to coordinate with bordering communities to best address shared alcohol issues; and (3) adopt a comprehensive view of culture that uses techniques that surmount infrastructure obstacles.
Sponsored by CSAP
Public Policy-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Beverlie Fallik, Ph.D., and Virginia Mulkern, Ph.D.
This presentation will focus on the importance of high quality data for federal, state and local planning, and advocacy as well as for program improvement. Examples of how these data are currently being used, as well as additional examples of how they might be used, will be presented. This presentation will draw on data from several CSAP grant and contract programs including: HIV Cohort 6, Methamphetamine Cohort 3, State Infrastructure Grants, and the Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Nora L. Drexler, M.Ed., Dr. Pamela Imm, Ph.D., and Garrison Gladfelter
“Lead and Seed” is a 2-day “Train the Trainer” process, in which adults are trained to return to their schools or communities to provide training to their own youth leaders in middle or high school, to reduce and prevent underage drinking. Lead and Seed is an innovative technique that combines BOTH the “program” approach and best “practice” approach. Conference participants will: (1) be able to identify three techniques that foster innovation with environmental strategies; (2) explore twenty-five innovative, creative, replicable environmental projects and activities to reduce underage drinking in their community; and (3) examine evaluation results from sample communities.
Cultrual/Ethnicity-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
Leonor Vanik, MA and Rafael Rivera
Using a standardized paper and pencil survey to ascertain the views of youth may not adequately capture the cultural issues that Latino youth face today as it relates to alcohol and tobacco consumption. As a pilot strategy, by utilizing a qualitative study approach, Latino youth are engaged in the process of gathering information that is culturally reflective based on their primary language use by them and for them. Latino youth were recruited to utilize technology in order to give their communities’ stories associated with risk factors from their perspective. Using the SPF SIG model, a Latino youth action program was developed to engage youth in assisting to conduct a community assessment on the north and south sides of Chicago. Conference participants will: (1) gain an understanding of how new technologies can be used to engage youth in community assessments; (2) receive lessons learned about implementing a qualitative action research process that engages Latino youth in conducting an environmental alcohol and tobacco strategy assessment using photo-voice; (3) have a better understanding of how Latino youth see their community as it relates to alcohol and tobacco and how they perceive some of the risk factors present in their communities; and (4) review lessons learned in creating a geographical information systems map (using ESRI software) as an assessment tool / strategy using the photo-voice data gathered by the Latino youth’s environmental assessment and it’s replicability in another Latino community.
Repeated in Session 8G
Social Marketing-Advanced / IOM: Universal
*Jeff Jordan
Social Branding® is a progressive innovation of traditional social marketing, utilizing the patterns within the identities of a specific sub-population to change behavior. The foundation of Social Branding® rests firmly on the belief that the identity and desire of the focus market is more influential in their decision-making process than utilitarian logic alone, particularly when the associated behavior is a risk behavior with widely-acknowledged negative effects, such as smoking, drinking and drug use. Besides a unique formative research process, the implementation of a social brand focuses on a cultural media approach, skipping expensive and less powerful medias such as outdoor, TV and radio, for culturally powerful new medias such as events, influential community members, clothing, and web. This promising approach has received rapid, nationwide attention, with programs tacking smoking, alcohol use, and after school program participation in over a dozen states. Conference attendees will: (1) be able to identify the salience of commercial branding in the formation, implementation, and management of prevention and health promotion campaigns; (2) understand how to associate a healthy behavior and the desired identity of the focus market to cause behavior change; and (3) be able to infiltrate the culture of the focus market to ensure that change comes from within the culture to achieve sustainability.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
Marc Bolan and Glenna Younkin, MA
The SPF-SIG project has a goal of causing community-level change. That means affecting change in a larger group of people than just the recipients of parenting classes or 6th graders receiving instruction in a school-based curriculum. Community-level change calls for use of environmental strategies, particularly policy and practice changes. The Washington SPF-SIG communities were required to prioritize a minimum of one environmental intervening variable and a group of related contributing factors. But we found very little information available about how to choose the correct strategy to meet a desired set of community goals. Further, we found little information about how to implement environmental strategies with fidelity. In this session conference participants will be able to: (1) identify problems associated with choosing and evaluating environmental strategies; (2) describe the role that community-based surveys can play in selecting the correct environmental strategies to implement in specific communities and in evaluating the impact of those strategies; and (3) describe at least three critical considerations for selecting and implementing community surveys.
(IOM=Institute of Medicine Model)
Strengthening Family Engagement in Prevention / IOM: Universal
Karen Randolph, Ph.D., Melissa Radey, Ph.D., and Skip Forsyth
The approach to substance abuse prevention in Florida recognizes individual programs and environmental (population-level) efforts to promote children’s well-being. To that end, the Florida Department of Children and Families engaged the assistance of Florida State University’s College of Social Work in a three-year project, called Florida Initiative for Family Engagement (FIFE), to investigate broad population-level strategies to engage parents in prevention-principled parenting practices. The focus of the first year was to determine the current science and practice with regard to family engagement. From this information, we are currently developing a model to strengthen prevention-principled parenting. The model will be tested during the third year of the project. Conference participants will: (1) increase their knowledge of the research on the use of environmental strategies to promote healthy outcomes among diverse populations; (2) become familiar with the results of the Florida’s Initiative for Family Engagement (FIFE) needs assessment, including a study on current parenting practices in Florida; and (3) increase their knowledge about how the results of the Florida’s Initiative for Family Engagement (FIFE) needs assessment were used to develop a population-based model for strengthening prevention-principled parenting.
Underage Drinking-Beginning / IOM: Universal
*Pat Davenport
Families and Schools Together (FAST) is an award-winning, collaborative prevention and parent involvement program designed to address three problems: alcohol and drug abuse, violence and delinquency, and school drop-out. Its strategy is to reduce causal factors related to those problems by starting with young children using a family-based model. Children from kindergarten to fifth grade are targeted for FAST. Invitation to all children in these grade levels is recommended, though not required. One of the defining features of FAST is that it collaborates with schools, parents, and community-based agencies. These collaborations offer opportunities to strengthen family, school, and community bonds. A collaborative team runs the eight-week program. Parent graduate volunteers run the two-year follow-up meetings with the collaborative team providing back-up support. Professionals become familiar to the whole family in this fun and informal setting. Should a family require services at a later time, the familiarity makes doing so easier and more comfortable. Conference participants will learn: (1) about the theory behind the FAST program activities; (2) how to engage parents in prevention; and (3) how the FAST program can be implemented in schools and community organizations
Sponsored by CSAP
HIV prevention / IOM: Indicated
Claudia Richards, MSW, LICSW, and Nilufer Isvan, Ph.D.
This roundtable discussion will bring together HIV grantees/evaluators to present brief summaries of their program activities, program outcomes, challenges/barriers, and methods for overcoming those barriers.
Cultural/Ethnicity-Intermediate / IOM: Selective
*Craig Ravesloot, Ph.D. and *Kathryn Robins, BAS, CWIC
Living Well / Vivir Bien is a peer-facilitated, health promotion program created in the mid 1990’s by Montana’s Rural Institute on Disability and Kansas Universities’ Institute for Human Development Center with initial funding from the CDC. The design supports implementation by and for persons with disabilities through both rural and urban Centers for Independent Living. This innovative program came to Arizona in 2006 when SMILE became the first agency in Arizona to offer the program, the first in the U.S. to adapt the curriculum for Spanish-speaking, frontier-rural-border residents, and adapt experiential learning activities for adolescent populations. a. To prevent secondary disabilities (eg. depression, chronic pain, fatigue, social isolation, pressures sores, etc.) that increase risk of substance abuse and other behavioral health problems. b. To reduce unnecessary use of high-cost medical services such as urgent care, emergency and/or days in hospital and related economic burdens on public-private healthcare systems. After this session participants shall be able to: (1) identify the major psycho-social problems and physiological complications that are secondary to living with a physical or sensory disability and the estimated economic burden; (2) identify the benefits of Living Well/Vivir Bien in terms of the habituated health promotion activities that improve quality of life for persons with disabilities and reduce economic burden on public and private healthcare systems; and (3) understand and discuss key cultural competency challenges and barriers faced by persons with disabilities (foreign-born and assimilated) as they try to access mainstream physical and behavioral health services.
Underage Drinking-Intermediate / IOM: Universal
Janet Storey and Allison Case
In an effort to address gaps in prevention and early intervention services to meet the needs of college students, ages 18-25, at Connecticut’s State Universities and increase the capacity of the public university system to reduce alcohol and drug use, abuse and related consequences, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) implemented and evaluated the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 3-in-1 Framework at Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities from 2003 to 2007. This research-based approach employed multiple, complementary interventions and strategies targeting individuals, including at risk and dependent drinkers, the student population as a whole (campus level) and the surrounding community. These collaborations resulted in a number of community-based prevention and harm reduction efforts, including merchant education, server training and safe rides programs. Conference participants will be able to: (1) describe the NIAAA 3-in-1 Framework and use of complementary intervention strategies on college campuses and communities; (2) understand Connecticut’s evaluation design and tools used to measure progress and success; (3) tailor planning, monitoring and reporting efforts to basic research questions and process and outcome indicators; and (4)apply lessons learned and discuss recommendations for future research on the NIAAA 3-in-1 Framework.
Frontier/Rural-Beginning / IOM: Selective
Holly Wald, Ph.D., and Debra Fye
The On Applebee Pond (OAP) program is designed to simultaneously serve two populations and address two types of prevention needs. OAP is both a universal prevention program for children in pre-kindergarten through third grade and a selected prevention program for students in grades sixth through twelfth. OAP was designed to supplement and enhance broad based school and community prevention efforts. Participants will learn: (1) about the format of a life skills prevention program that was specifically created to serve two populations simultaneously pre-school- and elementary-aged children, and youth in grades 6-12; (2) about program outcomes as it relates to indicators of sense of belonging with peers, positive views of self, involvement in constructive, positive activities, attitudes toward ATOD use and commitment to not use drugs or alcohol; and (3) how this universal program has been used in rural areas, as well as at risk youth.
Repeat of Session 7F
Social Marketing-Advanced / IOM: Universal
*Jeff Jordan
