Supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, several states have implemented community resource assessments to better understand alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention resources and services available at the state and local level. A key aspect of these studies has been the collection of data regarding the nature and extent of existing resources and the populations and geographic areas that these resources serve. These data will equip local and state level decision-makers with information important to substance abuse prevention planning and resource allocation. This presentation will report on community resource assessments implemented this year in two states, Missouri and Vermont. We will discuss the sampling and data collection methodologies, rationale for using these methodologies, as well as key findings for each state. We will describe the strategies of surveying a sample of state-supported prevention providers in Missouri and regional prevention consultants in Vermont to collect data on substance abuse prevention programming at the local level. Surveys in both states assessed the risk and protective factors addressed, types of prevention services offered, and populations served by prevention resources, as well as barriers to service delivery and collaboration efforts. Plans for how these survey data can be used at both the state and local levels will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe two ways of collecting community substance abuse prevention resource assessment data and understand some of the benefits and disadvantages of the different methodologies. 2. Understand the importance of clearly defining the scope of prevention resources for a community resource assessment. 3. Describe some of the key constructs included in a community resource assessment survey. 4. Describe how community substance abuse prevention resource assessment data can be used.
Keywords: Substance Abuse Prevention, Community Preventive Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.