ERIC Number: EJ1022873
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Dec
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0090-1482
EISSN: N/A
Evaluating Community Readiness to Implement Environmental and Policy-Based Alcohol Abuse Prevention Strategies in Wisconsin
Paltzer, Jason; Black, Penny; Moberg, D. Paul
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, v57 n3 p27-50 Dec 2013
Background: Matching evidence-based alcohol prevention strat- egies with a community's readiness to support those strategies is the basis for the Tri-Ethnic Community Readiness Model (CRM). The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the association of a community's readiness to address alcohol abuse in their community with the implementation of environmental and policy-based strategies. Methods: Twenty-one substance abuse prevention coalitions in Wisconsin participated in a pre-post intervention group-only evaluation using the CRM. As part of a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant, all grantees were obligated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to implement environmental and policy-based strategies focused on one of three priority areas: young adult binge drinking, underage drinking, and alcohol-related motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities. Results: At baseline, all communities (n=21) scored at or below a Stage 4 (on a scale of 1-9) readiness level ("preparedness"). The mean change in community readiness over the three-year period (2009-2011) was significant, but was less than one com- plete CRM stage (0.77, p=<0.001; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that implementation of environmental and policy-based strategies may improve a community's progression in perceived readiness to address alcohol abuse regardless of the community's baseline level of readiness to address alcohol abuse. Recommendation: An assessment specific for measuring community readiness for policy-related strategies should be developed. The assessment would include community-level factors (e.g. community climate) for implementing policy-related prevention strategies, and to not assume a linear readiness model.
Descriptors: Alcohol Abuse, Prevention, Community Involvement, Readiness, Environmental Influences, Public Policy, Pretests Posttests, Intervention, Grants, Young Adults, Motor Vehicles, Capacity Building, Interviews, Training, Fidelity, Guidelines, Program Implementation
American Alcohol and Drug Information Foundation. P.O. Box 10212, Lansing, MI 48901. Tel: 517-484-1770; Fax: 517-487-2474; e-mail: jadejournal@earthlink.net; Web site: http://www.jadejournal.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A