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Community Mobilization for the Prevention Prepared by: TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMMUNITY PREVENTION ... THE ONLY ALTERNATIVEWhile some in our world sit back and wait for the government, schools or law enforcement of our nation to resolve the drug problem, others have realized that the responsibility for ridding our nation of this menace is not another's but their own. The need of the day is not another government program or an updated educational program for children. The greatest need for today is the empowering of individual families within communities to confront the drug menace within their walls. The Community Prevention Alternative is based on the most recent research in prevention. It's designed t to include every system in a given community. This community prevention concept places no more responsibility on any one system or institution in a community than another. As well, it acknowledges that real prevention is the result of addressing all of the person in all of their environment. Simply stated: Effective Prevention cannot be done 'for" or "to" an individual or family. It should be recognized that each community has its own identity, organization, power systems, strengths and weaknesses. The specifics of any community action should be determined after intensive study and consideration of the community. Trained consultants assist the design and implementation of the task force and the training of community leaders to establish an effective and comprehensive prevention base. Another strength of the Community Alternative is in the presenters. The best of ideas have to be "sold" to those you are trying to involve. Experienced communicators provide not only the facts for prevention, but the motivation to accomplish the task. Trained prevention professionals assist the design and implementation of the task force and the training of community leaders and systems to establish an effective and comprehensive prevention base. Time is of extreme importance in establishing and initiating action from a community prevention effort. So often getting started takes months when there is no specific leadership or program. With the Community Alternative there is action within weeks. Also, guidance is provided in the establishing of a year long program of prevention for the community. The systems prevention model has been proven successful in communities from 1000 to 25,000 in population. Every community which has applied these principles and techniques has not only created a stronger prevention environment, but has also developed a widespread appreciation for other organizations and institutions as they networked for its success. TABLE OF CONTENTS EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY MOBILIZATIONAn effective negative consequence behavior coalition operates much like an old-fashioned bam-raising party. The group's members come together with various skills and resources, enthusiasm and a common goal. They muster up a cooperative spirit and tackle the monumental task before them. "While substance abuse and other crises can be a grave and frustrating problem, the group's positive attitude is essential. Realizing that decades of crusading and moralizing have only seen an increase in drug and alcohol abuse, most approaches today stress the importance of a progressive approach. Negative consequence behavior of any kind is a multifaceted problem; thus it requires multifaceted solutions. Every community needs to find out what their problems are and work out their own answers that will work where they live. Depending upon their individual circumstances, community groups have taken on a variety of shapes and have used different tactics. Even the makeup and function of prevention coalitions vary from community to community. JOINT RESPONSIBILITYThere is often a tendency to abdicate all responsibility, giving it to the school district. For example, it is a common misconception that schools are the primary environment where students use drugs and alcohol. Students rarely, use drugs during school. The schools are also not the culprits that have allowed young people to stray toward substance abuse. The schools, however, must be involved in effective community programs. They are one of the best resources for providing drug education and counseling. In some places, there is an expectancy among many that the federal government is somehow responsible for alleviating these problems. While federal support (in terms of research and information) is important, it is only support. The real responsibility belongs to the community itself. Similarly, the local mental health department, hospital or social services department should not be expected to carry the burden single-handedly. Members of the mental health, medical, social services, judicial and law enforcement communities, as well as local news media, can become important allies. The input and resources from all these sectors will be instrumental in converting enthusiasm to concrete local programs. THE IMPORTANCE OF A COMMON GOALWhile pressing forward, the community group must be careful to not overstep its bounds. The committee should operate as an effective coalition and a catalyst rather than as a political or authoritarian force. The committee stimulates interest, coordinates the efforts of the relevant parties and sustains the ongoing effort. A strong committee must persistently, yet diplomatically; lobby to keep its critical issues a major concern in its community. The role of a citizens' committee facing foes as formidable as AMS, suicide, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, youth violence and substance abuse is anything but neutral. But the committee must constantly check that its approach is realistic and balanced without becoming an advocacy group for special interests. Too often, well-intentioned individuals have led communities off on tangents. The coalition must maintain its focus on its single objective of reducing risk and strengthening support for community families. TABLE OF CONTENTS LESSONS LEARNED FROM LOW-SUCCESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS (OSP)With all the experience now amassed of success and failure in providing high-risk families and children with health and social services, education, child-care and family supports, there is no longer any basis for believing
KEY CONCEPTS OF COMMUNITY PREVENTION (from OSP)
The Office of Substance Abuse Prevention is working to identify the critical elements that comprise a solid community prevention system. The ideas are based on the actual experiences of successful prevention programs around the country. The guiding principle is that no one system; agency or organization alone can prevent community alcohol and other drug problems. They must all work together.TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMONLY USED TERMSPREVENTI0N -A proactive process which empowers individuals and systems to meet the challenges of life events and transitions by creating and reinforcing conditions that promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. COMMUNITY -A group of' people who share traditions and values or as the residents of a geographic area who may be loosely or closely associated. COMMUNITY PREVENTION SYSTEM -A set of individuals, organizations and agencies organized to reduce the incidence of alcohol and other drug problems (in concert with other identified community ills) through supportive and reinforcing relationships that foster healthy growth and positive interactions between the individual and the environment. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT -The acquisition and use of the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to develop and/or enhance an effective community system. INCLUSION -Intensive outreach which allows for participatory planning and decision making, representative leadership and involvement of indigenous groups, organizations and natural helpers. CULTURAL COMPETENCE -A commitment to valuing diversity, acquiring cross cultural knowledge of understanding and employing culturally appropriate communication, etiquette and problem solving. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHANGING OUR THINKING
TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMUNITY PREVENTION EVALUATION
OBJECTIVES OF SYSTEMS PREVENTION 1. AWARENESS - TABLE OF CONTENTS
 TABLE OF CONTENTS EVALUATION OF SYSTEMS PREVENTION 1. NUMBERICAL -Collect numerical data on the systems presently involved in prevention activities in the community prior to the emphasis for comparison to the maintained data on the number directly involved in community prevention activities provided by the program. 2. TASK FORCE FUNCTION - Evaluate: the community system network as to inclusion of all community cultures, shared involvement, system representation, understanding of prevention and ownership of responsibility in post-emphasis review. 3. COMMUNITY IMPACT - Evaluate broad-based individual acceptance of the concept of shared responsibility for effective prevention and ownership of that responsibility through personal interview, 4. REPLICATION APPROPRIATENESS - Evaluate whether there were unique variables in the chosen community leadership that hindered or benefited the success or failure of the program.
TABLE OF CONTENTS METHODOLOGY OF SYSTEMS PREVENTION 1. FACILITATORS - The process of creating shared ownership and responsibility within a community is best achieved through the use of facilitators or presenters trained to motivate as well as educate the community system leaders. a. These facilitators would be from outside the co Immunity and not represent any specific community system avoiding any present community conflicts or power struggles. b. Training of specific community system leaders would be provided by facilitators familiar with those systems. 2. TRAINING Community system leaders would be trained to: a. Understand prevention and the specific roll of their system in prevention. b. Plan and provide regular prevention programs, activities and information to individuals involved in their community system.
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Education, Religion, Law Enforcement, etc.) Institution, Agency, Business or Organization Represented- Contact 1: Name: Mailing Address- Business Phone: Home Phone: (Optional)
Contact 2: Name: Mailing Address: Business Phone: Home Phone: (Optional) TABLE OF CONTENTS The development process for community prevention systems is first and foremost a process of building relationships. Relationships must be established between and among individuals, families, agencies, organizations an ethnicities. This requires a total and unquestionable belief in inclusion. PERSONAL SYSTEM AWARENESS 1. The system(s) I represent is/are: 2. The contribution(s) my system makes to this effort is/are: 3. I am an important player to have here because: 4. A system that is not represented at our table of systems is: 5. As a system of systems we will be better able to: TABLE OF CONTENTS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER 1. What are the key events and issues that contribute to starting or enhancing a community-wide prevention effort? 2. What 'is the source and role of LEADERSHIP? 3. How can we be sure that our plans reflect the DIVERSITY of our community? 4. How do we sustain the effort and keep it GROWING?
b. How do we attract the human and financial resources necessary for the community prevention system to thrive and expand? 5. How do we ASSESS the success of our efforts? 6. How do we develop and maintain effective PARTNERSHIPS?
TABLE OF CONTENTS GROUP LEADERSHIP Community groups are organized in many different ways, but they are invariably of a democratic nature. Leadership positions must be given careful consideration. A good leader serves as a liaison between the communittee's subgroups - an individual who is respected by parents, educators and the other major players. The group leader may be a member of any one or more of these subgroups, but he or she must be empathetic with other segments in the committee. The individual's history of cooperation and community involvement should be weighed heavily. For example, a parent who is convinced that the schools are a hotbed of drug dealing may draw publicity but probably will not fill the leadership role well. Likewise, a school principal with a chip on his shoulder for the dysfunctional families of the'80s would have a hard time overlooking his own biases. SUSTANING COMMUNITY INTEREST Community interest can be hard to sustain. However, the coalition must make a long term effort to have a significant impact. The substance abuse epidemic is made up of durable strains of social and emotional ills. Thus, the community group must plan extended programs even if this local blight appears to be in remission. Interest inevitably fluctuates regardless of the progress or lack of progress the committee makes. Turnover in parents, decreasing media coverage and apathy can deplete a once strong public commitment. Periodic activities some committees use to maintain interest include presentations to parent groups and local community organizations. Other ways to keep concern focused on the issue is by encouraging institutions and agencies to give substance abuse a high priority. Many school districts have responded to community concern by integrating the subject of substance abuse into health curricula and by designing specific counselors at each school as drug abuse counselors. Probation departments throughout the nation are taking an active role by screening juvenile offenders for drug and alcohol problems and recommending treatment alternatives. Hospitals and police departments in many communities are also taking an active role in drug and alcohol education efforts. The effective substance abuse coalition will find many constructive possibilities for keeping the issue in public view. TABLE OF CONTENTS TASK FORCE CHAIRPERSON GENERAL GUIDELINES You have been asked to serve in this vital capacity due to your concern for the youth of our community and your ability to mobilize and motivate adults to action. The guidelines listed below can provide you with a check list to insure coordinated action with other groups in the network. This general list is supplemented by the specific guidelines for your area listed elsewhere in the packet. ALI., AREAS OF THE PREVENTION NETWORK SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING: 1. Create a listing of every community organization, institution, agency or business that serve!;; your specific area of responsibility (system). (Identify your target group.) 2. List specific individuals whom you feel have significant influence with those who serve in this area. (Identify your resources.) 3. List and recruit specific individuals from each organization, institution, etc., who can be a contact person for promotion of prevention initiatives. (Identify your contacts.) 4 Identify community organizations, institutions, agencies, etc., that may be targeted for support by other task force areas and network with them in addressing that area. (Identify crossover.) 5. Be responsible for the direct promotion of community-wide prevention activities, programs or events to your specific area. 6. Be responsible for the direct promotion of other area (systems) prevention activities, programs or events to your specific area. Work with the Community Prevention Network Team to create a comprehensive prevention effort in the community. TABLE OF CONTENTS This list of activities can be utilized to stimulate local projects and actions designed to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse and other high-risk behaviors.
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