Partnering with 12 community sectors: Collaboration Partnering with 12 community sectors: Government Agency Organizations/Agencies Youth Organizations Youth Civic Groups Parents Collaborations (or partners ships) with the 12 sectors of the community. Because substance abuse prevention strategies are more effective when all sectors of the community work together to prevent youth substance use, it is important that community coalitions who are implementing efforts aimed at preventing and reducing underage drinking and other drug use work with multiple sectors of the community. For example, when research-based substance use prevention programs are properly implemented by schools and communities, use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs is reduced.   Such programs help teachers, parents, and health care professionals shape youths’ perceptions about the risks of substance use. While many social and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people perceive drug use as harmful, they reduce their level of use. (DELETE?) Business Law Enforcement Media Faith Groups Healthcare Schools

Strategic Prevention Framework The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) to serve as an operating system for making change in the community. The SPF utilizes a five-step planning process to guide the selection, implementation, and evaluation of effective, culturally appropriate, and sustainable prevention activities. The effectiveness of this process begins with a clear understanding of community needs and depends on the involvement of community members in all stages of the planning process. The SPF includes these five steps: Step 1. Assess Needs Step 2. Build Capacity Step 3. Plan Step 4. Implement Step 5. Evaluation These steps are guided by the principles of cultural competence and sustainability. Each step contains key tasks that are essential to a comprehensive strategic planning process. (HANDOUT SPF: AT-A-GLANCE)