 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Richard A. Yoast, PhD, Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, American Medical Association, 515 North State St, Chicago, IL 60610, 312-464-4202, Richard-Yoast@ama-assn.org and Sandra A Hoover, PhD, Community Health Consulting, 628 Torrance St., San Diego, CA 92103.
Efforts to reduce collegiate alcohol related problems have often resulted in finger pointing between communities and universities. City residents and officials are frustrated at the lack of university control over student off-campus behaviors. University officials feel powerless to control community environments that promote high-risk drinking, heavy consumption and that provide students with easy, often-illegal access to low-cost alcohol. The A Matter of Degree (AMOD)of ten campus/community policy partnerships set the stage for a renewed consideration of the university as social change agent and public policy advocacy leader. The AMOD model, recognizing that alcohol issues cross campus/community lines, emphasizes the university as a dynamic, involved, community force - one that can positively or negatively affect the health of its students, staff, and community. Change then occurs not just through discussion and persuasion but also from active, purposeful policy advocacy and other changes in our environments. If universities are to successfully engage in the community, they need to reorganize how they think about what they do and the skills that they need to bring to these collaborations. They have to move from simply observing community life, to being active participants and leaders. For universities this is as much a transformation process as it is a specific goal attainment. The AMOD collaboration and advocacy experience demonstrates the transformation of the image of the university from being an outside observer to an active political force in their communities. The common framework is now that alcohol related problems are not a student or a city or a campus problem but “our shared problem and responsibility.” See www.alcoholpolicysolutions.net
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.