Community Prevention Partners

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is sponsoring incentive grants to states for implementation of its “Strategic Prevention Framework”. The Framework is an innovative approach to developing substance abuse prevention programs across regions or communities in the US. Colorado applied for these funds and on receiving them selected 14 sites within the state that will pilot test the prevention framework. In 2006, Garfield County became a state funded site for this prevention initiative.

Community Prevention Partners-Colorado

Federal funds are managed in Colorado by its Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. ADAD oversees implementation of prevention activities in all 14 Colorado sites. ADAD chose the Garfield Board of County Commissioners as its grantee for the Garfield County project site.

http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/adad/

Community Prevention Partners - Garfield County

The Board of County Commissioners assigned oversight and implementation of the local prevention project to its Human Services Department.

http://www.garfield-county.com

The Human Services Department has delegated project operational authority to a “Prevention Policy Board” composed of top-level policy makers in Garfield County and it also contracted with Community Health Initiatives to provide staff and assistance to this Board.

Federal funds are being used in Garfield County to implement the five-step "Strategic Prevention Framework" shown in the diagram above. The Framework guides prevention planners to:

1. Conduct community needs assessments;
2. Build local capacity to deliver effective prevention strategies;
3. Develop a comprehensive strategic plan;
4. Implement evidence-based prevention policies, programs and practices; and
5. Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness.

Woven throughout the five-step process are the tasks of ensuring cultural responsiveness and of sustaining funding for local projects that prove valuable in reducing and preventing substance abuse.