Strategic Prevention Framework
1. Assessment
This phase requires states to narrow their focus to a particular problem. Ohio has decided to combat alcohol and drug usage in the 18 to 25 year age group. After a priority has been specified, states must evaluate the resources already in place within communities and determine what additional tools, training, materials and resources may be needed.
2. Capacity
This phase involves acquiring the resources needed to begin implementing the SPF objectives. In addition to gathering financial support, capacity building may include involving individuals, community members, organizations and businesses on the project. Education and training is often a key part of this phase.
3. Planning
After the state has a firm understanding of the resources in each community, a detailed plan is created to combat the issue at state, regional and local levels.
4. Implementation
In this phase all the work of the previous phases is put into action as prevention programs are instituted at various levels. As implementation occurs, a fine-tuning of goals, timeline and allocation of resources may occur.
5. Evaluation
In this phase the efficacy of the programs is addressed. Strengths and weaknesses are identified and detailed plans for ongoing prevention and treatment are created. While the components of the Strategic Prevention Framework occur in order, they are also cyclical. After evaluation, it may be decided that the problem needs to be addressed further and the cycle begins again. This helps to foster an ongoing commitment within communities to prevent alcohol and substance abuse. The hope is to target individuals in all multicultural groups and ultimately, to make prevention programs self-sustaining.
The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is built on a community-based risk and protective factors approach to prevention and a series of guiding principles that can be utilized at the federal, State/tribal and community levels.
Although the direct recipients of SPF State Incentive Grants (SIGs) funds are States and federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations, SAMHSA envisions the SPF SIGs being implemented in partnerships between the States/tribes and communities.
To get a better understanding of the Ohio SPF SIG please go to About Us tab and click on History in the drop down menu.
The SPF requires States and communities to systematically:
- Assess their prevention needs based on epidemiological data,
- Build their prevention capacity,
- Develop a strategic plan,
- Implement effective community prevention programs, policies and practices, and
- Evaluate their efforts for outcomes.
Ohio's Strategic Prevention Framework Goals
- decreases the number of 18-25 year olds engaged in high risk use of alcohol
- decreases the number of 18-25 year olds engaged in the use of illicit drugs
- decreases the number of 18-25 year olds misusing prescription medications
