The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63206

Jeronda T Davis, MS, MDiv¹, James A Elliott, BS¹, Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, PhD¹, Philomena Green-Morsell², and Francis Johnson, MSW². (1) Technical Assistance, Training, and Research Support, The MayaTech Corporation, 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 900, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5645, 301-587-1600 x608, jdavis@mayatech.com, (2) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5515 Security Lane, Rockwall II, Suite 950, Rockville, MD 20852

President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative has stimulated controversy over the criteria that are used to classify organizations as faith-based. Currently, there are no standard criteria and the databases on faith-based discretionary grants do not provide guidelines on how to identify organizations that qualify as faith-based versus those that use faith-based strategies. The purpose of this presentation is to propose a classification system that will identify elements to define faith-based organizations and faith-based public health strategies.

This presentation is based on the review of program records of 12 grantees funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s initiative for integrated HIV and substance abuse prevention in minority communities. The study found that grantees with faith-based strategies had extensive collaborations with other faith-based and community organizations to which they would refer minority clients as needed. Additionally, faith-based grantees conducted their prevention services within churches and within secular settings. Finally, the faith-based grantees provided extensive curriculum training for religious leaders and other community leaders that would implement the program design. These elements are set forth in the presentation as some of the criteria within the proposed classification system.

This formative study of the criteria used to differentiate the term “faith-based organization” from “faith-based strategy” will help to standardize the lexicon among HIV and substance abuse prevention practitioners, researchers, and other participants in the public health community. It will also highlight the defined faith-based strategies as legitimate avenues for public health practice in combating the spread of HIV and substance abuse.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Identify common elements of selected faith-based organizations that provide integrated HIV and substance abuse prevention services.
• Discuss faith-based strategies of selected HIV and substance abuse programs in minority communities that are not within a faith-based organization.
• Develop a plan of technical assistance for faith-based organizations attempting to deliver integrated HIV and substance abuse prevention services in minority communities.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Prevention, Faith Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.