What is the Strategic Prevention Framework? ___The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) outlines a process that an organization, initiative, community, or state can follow in order to prevent and reduce the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. ___SPF concentrates on eliminating risk factors and strengthening protective factors. ___Risk factors are those elements within an individual or her environment that make her more susceptible to particular negative behaviors or conditions. ___Protective factors are the opposite – those elements within an individual or his environment that make him less susceptible to those negative behaviors or conditions. ___SPF has five phases: Assessment Capacity Planning Implementation Evaluation Why use the Strategic Prevention Framework? ___SPF is inclusive and participatory. ___SPF emphasizes the role of the community in prevention. ___SPF is open-ended, and encourages communities to find their own solutions. ___SPF aims to create long-term social change by focusing on risk and protective factors that can be influenced by short- or medium-term prevention efforts. ___SPF provides communities with proven, evidence-based models to choose from. ___SPF provides technical assistance and links to other practitioners and programs. ___SPF’s focus on risk and protective factors can improve the long-term well-being of the community. Possible Disadvantages to Using SPF ___Limited resources. ___Insistence on the faithful implementation of evidence-based programs. ___Administrative load. When should you use the Strategic Prevention Framework? ___Before there’s a serious problem. ___When resources are available. ___When a community problem has entered the public consciousness, but before it has reached crisis stage. ___When a community problem has reached the crisis stage. ___When there’s public focus on an at-risk population, particularly youth. ___When there’s a community economic development effort underway and people are looking at the community’s quality of life. ___When a grassroots movement for community improvement has arisen, and is looking for a way to address community issues. Who should use the Strategic Prevention Framework? ___Members of the population(s) most at risk. ___Medical professionals, particularly those who work directly with at-risk populations. ___Human service workers. ___Alcohol- and drug-treatment professionals, as well as researchers in the field. ___Law enforcement officials. ___Educators. ___Elected and appointed public officials and policy makers at the appropriate level. ___Parents. ___Youth. ___Elders. ___The business community. ___Interested community members. How do you use the Strategic Prevention Framework? Phase 1: Assessment ___Form an epidemiological workgroup. ___Assess community needs and assets. ___Assess community readiness. ___Determine the most pressing need that a prevention effort can influence. Phase 2: Capacity. ___Start with your core group. ___Choose or develop a logic model or theory of practice to guide your effort. ___Use what you know about the community’s level of readiness to publicize the issue and encourage participation. ___Expand the network of community members interested in preventing substance use. Phase 3: Planning. ___Assemble a planning team. ___Train the planning team. ___Analyze local risk and protective factors. ___Choose the factors you’ll concentrate on. ___Research and choose an evidence-based approach that can be used with the risk and protective factors you’ve settled on. ___Create an overall plan for the effort. ___Present the plan to the community and gather support. Phase 4: Implementation. ___Hire staff and/or recruit volunteers. ___Stick to your plan for the implementation process. ___Continue to pay attention to resources. ___Keep the community informed. Phase 5: Evaluation. ___Evaluate the process. ___Evaluate the impact of the program. ___Evaluate the outcomes. ___Use the evaluation results to adjust the program to be more effective. ___Keep at it indefinitely.
