Evaluating state-wide and community level outcomes of community-based substance abuse prevention strategies in Colorado

In 2004, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) awarded Colorado a five-year Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) to prevent and reduce substance abuse-related problems, especially those related to underage drinking, and build prevention infrastructure. The SPF model is a five step process through which 14 Colorado communities were funded to: 1) use data to assess prevention needs, 2) build prevention capacity, 3) develop a strategic plan, 4) implement effective community prevention programs, policies and practices, and 5) monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, sustaining what worked well. Colorado is completing a final, no-cost extension year during which most communities have been working through Step 5. While evaluation activities have been interwoven into the entire SPF process, obtaining outcome data at both the state and community level has been a challenging process in Colorado. Challenges Colorado has encountered relevant to assessing state and community level change as well as approaches the state has taken in attempt to overcome these challenges will be shared. Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss their experiences and lessons learned related to state and community level evaluation.