Sources of Substance Use Prevalence, Risk and Protective Factor, and Community Resource Data Matthew J. Cook University of Connecticut Health Center Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth Evaluation Team Needs Assessment Training Session July 16, 1999

Presentation Overview Types of data –School Survey Data –Social Indicators Data –Community Resource Data Locating the data

Steps in Conducting a Needs Assessment 1. Define the community 2. Assess the level of substance use 3. Identify population(s) at risk 4. Identify risk/protective factors 5. Identify community resources 6. Assess community readiness

School Survey Data Prevalence of substance use in the school population Risk and protective factors Available for some communities (districts) State, Educational Reference Group (ERG), and Regional data

Educational Reference Group (ERG) Classification system used by Connecticut Dept. of Education (DOE) Group school districts together of similar socioeconomic status 9 educational reference groups (A-I) Most reports you will find collapse the 9 ERGs Use to compare similar school districts to each other

If there is limited community specific data available for my town, what do I do? Use ERG data –1997 Student Survey (DMHAS/UCHC) –1996 Voices of CT Youth Survey (DPH/U Minn.) –1995 Student Survey (DMHAS/UCHC) Use state data for a comparable population –Regional/geographic area, race/ethnicity, grade, gender, etc. Use national data for a comparable population

State Substance Use Prevalence Data 1997 CT Substance Abuse Prevention Student Survey (UCHC/DMHAS) 1997 Social Indicators Reports (PIRE/DMHAS) 1996 Voice of Connecticut Youth (UMinn/DPH) 1995 Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use Student Survey (UCHC/DMHAS) 1992 Strategic School Profile (DOE)

Data for High Risk Populations Children involved with Juvenile Justice System –1996 Substance Abuse Need for Treatment among Arrestees (SANTA) Alternative school students, drop-outs, truants, incarcerated youth –1996 Youth at Risk Study (YAR)

National ATOD Prevalence Data Monitoring the Future –Annually; 8th, 10, and 12th grade students National Household Survey –Annually; age 12 and up including adults Youth Risk Behavior Survey –Biannually; 9th-12th grade students

Other Types of Data Social Indicators Telephone/Household surveys Interviews Focus groups Informal discussions with youth

Social Indicator Data Archival data from various state sources (DPH, Public Safety, Education, DCF, etc.) Social, economic, and civic conditions associated with current and future substance abuse Organized by domains and risk factors Available for each of the 169 Conn. towns from DMHAS

Examples of Social Indicators: Individual and Family Domains Individual Domain –Juvenile drug arrest rate –Juvenile liquor law arrest rate –Adult DUI arrest rate Family Domain –Teen birth rate –Physical, emotional, sexual abuse referrals

Examples of Social Indicators: School and Community Domains School Domain –Percent of eighth grade students who met state education goals on mastery exams –Average score on the College Board’s Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Community Domain –Crime rates (property, violence, family violence) –Unemployment rate

Steps in Conducting a Needs Assessment 1. Define the community 2. Assess the level of substance use 3. Identify population(s) at risk 4. Identify risk/protective factors 5. Identify community resources 6. Assess community readiness

Community Resource Data Number of programs available to population Types of programs available to population Barriers to the delivery of effective services –Structural barriers (e.g. lack of staff, transportation, program slots, etc.) –Participant barriers (e.g. lack of awareness, interest, social stigma, etc.) Population served

Examples of Resource Data Sources Addiction Services for Eastern Connecticut Area 1995 Assessment of Community Needs: Study of Barriers to Services 1999 Assessment of Substance Abuse Prevention Services in Subregion 5A UConn Health Center/DMHAS Community Resource Assessment

Where can I find some of the data? Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth Web Site ( School districts Local and regional community agencies Town government agencies State agencies Infoline Key informants Maybe even in your office!

Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth Web Site Info about the Initiative –Participants –Evaluation –Newsletter –Request for Proposal –Web Sites of Interest –Substance Use Data –Much much more!

Data Sources Information on the GPIY Web Site Find local, regional, state, and national substance use data Organized by region Contains full reports and contact information Reports of school surveys, social indicator data, interviews, telephone surveys, resource data, etc.

Sources of Resource Data Infoline ( ) Key informants –Regional Action Council Directors –Local Prevention Committees –Town leaders (police, youth service bureaus) Regional United Way offices Some communities have existing resource assessments

Summary Uses of data for the proposal –Substance use prevalence –Risk and protective factors –Community resources Utilizing the web site –