The Strategic Prevention Framework

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

Some advantages to using SPF: SPF is inclusive and participatory. SPF emphasizes the role of the community in prevention. 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.

Some advantages to using SPF: (cont.) 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.

Some possible disadvantages to using SPF: Limited resources. Insistence on the faithful implementation of evidence-based programs. Administrative load.

Potential stakeholders in SPF: 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.

Potential stakeholders in SPF: (cont.) Elected and appointed public officials and policy makers at the appropriate level. Parents. Youth. Elders. The business community. Interested community members.

Using the SPF 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. Assess community readiness. 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 abuse.

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.