The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), one of three Centers in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA / DHHS) has embarked on the creation of PreventionDSS (Decision Support System). This comprehensive web-based portal for technical support and training is designed to promote scientific methods and programs for substance abuse prevention. PreventionDSS serves two broad groups - community-based substance abuse prevention practitioners and State system-level service providers as it actively guides them toward making well-informed decisions concerning a broad range of options for prevention programming. In addition to giving quick access to science-based knowledge and databases, PreventionDSS has unique interactive DSS Tools providing step-by-step assistance in needs assessment, capacity building, intervention program selection, program implementation, evaluation, and reporting. PreventionDSS also responds to end-user input with customized, tailored feedback that helps guide substance abuse prevention planning, implementation, and reporting efforts. Currently in its second year of development, CSAP’s PreventionDSS is growing rapidly, and incorporating more decision support feedback from prevention professionals into its DSS tools. When completed, PreventionDSS will have the potential for global application, providing expert advice, guidance, and technical support to anyone with access to the Internet. In presenting the PreventionDSS enterprise, we discuss and describe the benefits and challenges of the collaborative multidisciplinary development process that is constantly open to public view and pilot testing. We will also demonstrate the current prototype of this exciting and innovative online decision support system - one that promises to revolutionize community-based drug abuse prevention activities. See www.preventiondss.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: · Describe Prevention DSS and the seven-step logic model that underlies the online technical assistance application. · Locate the DSS on the WWW, construct user identities, and create projects for establishing and tracking community prevention efforts. · Evaluate the usefulness of the DSS, it’s tutorials, and its tools to helping in their own prevention efforts.
Keywords: Internet Tools, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: CSAP (Center for Substance Abuse Prevention)
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.