Utilizing Strategic Planning to Create a Continuum of Services System for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems

The Marin County, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Programs (ADTP) has developed and implemented two rounds of strategic planning to address alcohol and drug use and related problems in Marin County. The first round of strategic planning was developed to focus solely on transitioning the prevention system from a focus on individual strategies to environmental approaches. Based on the lessons learned from that six-year process, ADTP successfully developed and implemented a Continuum of Services System Strategic Planning process resulting in a new 2010-2015 strategic plan which address the entire continuum of services from prevention to early intervention, treatment and recovery. ADTP developed and implemented this approach to ensure that all services across the continuum would: be prepared for healthcare reform; utilize evidence based interventions; to clarify local standards and practices and to ensure measurable results. The resulting 2010-2015 Continuum of Services Strategic Plan resulted in significant changes to the service system in Marin County including the development and implementation of local prevention coalitions, an integrated assessment/case management "Recovery Connections Center", a new consumer led Marin Recovery Project and Screening and Brief Intervention and referral to treatment services. We intend to describe the organizational and community conditions necessary to conduct this type of planning; define the structure and roadmap for the process; and identify the changes to the system of care intended to promote sustainability and replicability.