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Research & Policy

Communities that care: Action for drug abuse prevention
J. David Hawkins, Richard F. Catalano Jr. and Associates

The authors present a community mobilization strategy based on social development research designed to reduce the risk factors that increase the chance of ATOD problems, while strengthening the protective factors that help shield children from ATOD involvement. Successful community mobilization requires a shared definition of the problem, a unified vision of change, developmentally appropriate sets of activities, significant coordination and cooperation between service professionals and community members, and creative use of human and financial resources. They address major environmental factors such as economic and social deprivation, disorganized neighborhoods, housing problems, laws and norms favoring drug use; availability of drugs; and individual factors, such as family history of drug use, poor family dynamics, antisocial or rebellious behavior, lack of academic commitment or failure, and friends who use drugs.

Social development strategies emphasize the healthy attachment of children and youths with parents, school, prosocial peer groups, and community. A coordinated community approach to ATOD prevention facilitates widespread communication to achieve consistent norms of behavior. It also enhances knowledge about risk and protective factors, and strengthens positive youth bonds. "Communities that care" initiatives focus on preschool and family, school, and community. They are characterized by a year-long education, risk assessment, and planning phase, during which key leaders emerge and a community board is formed and trained, environmental risks and priorities are identified, and an action plan is created.

The authors describe the components of prevention programs that target different age groups and community entities: prenatal and infancy programs, early childhood education programs, parent training, school organization and administration, school instruction, ATOD curricula, community and school drug use policies, and the media. For each type, they provide a program overview, rationale, goals and objectives, supporting research, program descriptions, implementation activities, training and technical assistance needs, evaluation suggestions, and additional resources. A final chapter focuses on funding resources and includes advice on making programs financially stable using long-term funding options.

Jossey-Bass Publishers
350 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 433-1767
Fax: (800) 605-2665 or (415) 433-0499
(1992, 247 pp.; $31.95 + p/h)





 

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Free To Grow is a national program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University.