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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Diane Barry, MS, Health & Human Development Programs, Education Development Center, 55 Chapel St., Newton, MA 02026, 617-618-2303, dbarry@edc.org and Martin Cohen, MSW, MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, 161 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701.

Despite a considerable body of research into what makes for effective youth substance abuse prevention and treatment strategies, many local communities continue to support youth substance abuse initiatives that are outmoded or lack rigor. This session will demonstrate the Massachusetts' MetroWest regional approach to youth substance abuse prevention and intervention. The model matches grant funding with an ongoing program of technical assistance and evaluation in five funded communities selected to innovate, collaborate, and mentor future communities. The regional technical assistance center builds on its federally-funded CSAP/CAPT roots and an ongoing evaluation to enable data-driven decisions and adaptations for evidence based practices. Partners include a local community foundation, national technical assistance provider, a university and five local communities.

This regional model is grounded in theories of adult learning, behavior change and organizational development. It builds on this theory and experience in creating community change through regional collaboration. It also stresses the importance of regional (versus local) approaches to increase collaboration, resource sharing and creative problem solving. The project's evaluation focuses on community level outcomes and the effectiveness of regional technical assistance as a vehicle for improving knowledge dissemination and program effectiveness.

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify criteria for successful youth substance abuse intervention implementation and barriers to success; 2) Identify key advantages and strategies for regional models 3) Identify opportunities for similar partnerships (i.e. what factors facilitate better regional partnerships, what kinds of technical assistance works best in this model

Learning Objectives:

• Identify criteria for successful youth substance abuse intervention implementation and barriers to success;
• identify key advantages and strategies for regional models;
• Identify opportunities for similar partnerships (i.e. what factors facilitate better regional partnerships, what kinds of technical assitance works best)

Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation