Author Description

Substance abuse prevention can improve community health, but only when implemented well. Good implementation is difficult given the significant amount of knowledge and skills required, the large number of steps that need to be addressed (e.g., needs assessment, setting of priorities, planning and delivering programs, monitoring, and evaluation), and the wide variety of contexts in which prevention programs need to be implemented. These challenges have resulted in a large gap between the positive outcomes often achieved by prevention science and the lack of these outcomes by prevention practice at the local level. Common mechanisms within the United States to address this gap are available (e.g., Internet and training), but these mechanisms lack outcomes. A new model, emphasizing collaboration between science and practice is needed. Incorporating traditional evaluation, empowerment evaluation, results-based accountability, and continuous quality improvement, this manual's ten-step process enhances practitioners' prevention skills while empowering them to plan, implement, and evaluate their own programs. The manual's text and worksheets address needs and resources assessment; goals and objectives; choosing programs; ensuring program "fit"; capacity, planning, process, and outcome evaluation; continuous quality improvement; and sustainability. The model presented in the manual is meant to be a best practice process--prescriptive, yet flexible enough to facilitate any prevention program.