Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115311

Maria Theresa Wessel, EdD, CHES and Jeanne M. Martino-McAllister, PhD. Department of Health Sciences, James Madison University, 800 S. Main St., MSC 4301, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, 540-568-3955, wesselmt@jmu.edu

The purpose of this proposal is to summarize the results of the fourth year of a project designed to provide training and assistance to prevention professionals throughout our state as measured by participant feedback, utilization survey results, and pre-post-posttest results of knowledge retention. This training was the result of a grant funded partnership between the Governors Office and our university in order to improve prevention of substance abuse and violence among youth based on federal guidelines and current science-based best practices. A curriculum was developed, training protocol established and implemented and technical assistance was provided to prevention professionals. Three training levels: Building a Common Knowledge Base; Skills for Assessing Needs and Evaluating for Results; and Building Capacity for Sustainability were each presented as two day workshops to improve prevention programming in communities around the state. Results showed participants (n=156) improved their knowledge pre-post by 6.84% and continued knowledge retention 6 months after the workshops. 83% reported they used the information or skills gained in their current position. Process evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Youth survey data are not yet available to measure any impact on youth substance abuse and violent behavior as a result of improved prevention programming. In addition to explanation of the evaluation results of this project, this presentation will enable participants to understand the principles of science-based prevention programming for youth substance abuse and violence, and identify the components of the training model utilized in this project for replication in other projects.

Learning Objectives: As a result of this presentation participants will

• Understand the principles of science-based prevention programming for youth substance abuse and violence
• Identify the components of the training model utilized in this project 3.Understand the evaluation data to guide replication projects
• Identify the impact of this project on reducing substance abuse and violence among youth in our state by providing science-based prevention programming.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Prevention, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.