Building and Sustaining Coalitions for Effective Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention

1. Building and Sustaining Coalitions for Effective Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Tracy T. Downs, Ed.D. Associate Director John D. Clapp, Ph.D. Director

2. Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention The U.S. Department of Education, through its Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, established the Higher Education Centerfor Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention in 1993. The Higher Education Center is located within Educational Development Center, Inc., located in Newton, Massachusetts

3. The Center’s Mission To assist institutions of higher education in developing, implementing, and evaluating alcohol and other drug abuse and violence prevention programs, policies, and systems that will improve student retention and academic success and promote the health and safety of students and members of the surrounding community.

4. Higher Education Center Services The Center provides: • General information and assistance • Publications, including case studies, Prevention Updates,and Catalyst newsletter • Online trainings, Webinars, training institutes, and customized technical assistance • Web content on multiple topics, including various types of campus violence and specific prevention strategies • HEC/News E-Digest, a weekly electronic digest of news and information relating to AOD and violence prevention

5. The State of the Field • Current evidence from health behavior research suggests, comprehensive, ecological approaches are needed (DeJong, et al. 1998; Saltz et al. 2009) • We know specific interventions work for alcohol (NIAAA, 2006) • Drug and violence prevention research is less developed, but we understand etiological factors (Langford, 2011)

6. Individual Interpersonal Institutional Community Society Social Ecological Model

7. Individual Characteristics Small environments Society & Culture Social Systems Framework of Alcohol Use Macro Mezzo Groups families Micro Community Factors Neighborhoods

8. Five Strategies for Environmental Management • Offer alcohol-free options • Create a health-promoting normative environment • Restrict marketing and on and off campus • Limit alcohol availability • Increase enforcement of laws and policies

9. Evidence-Based Strategies… • Improves chances of successfully achieving your goals and objectives • Utilizes staff time and campus resources wisely • Are most effective and sustainable with the help of a campus and community coalition

10. Coalitions and Task Forces

11. Coalitions • A coalition is “an organization of individuals representing diverse organizations, factions, or constituencies who agree to work together in order to achieve a common goal.” • A coalition is a vehicle for achieving the goal of creating environmental change.

12. Two Different Approaches to Coalitions • Broad Based Coalitions • Small “Elite” Coalitions

13. Broad Based Coalitions… • Have members from multiple sectors of the campus and community • Typically employ an “organizer” • Can have sub-committees or working groups • Typically embrace a consensus or win-win approach

14. Broad-based Coalitions: Pros & Cons • Pros: • Builds relationships that otherwise don’t happen • Can generate political pressure for change • Can respond to new “threats” quickly • Good for policy change • Cons: • Become institutionalized • Consensus is often difficult on “hot button” issues

15. “Elite” Coalitions • Use researchers and key stakeholders from select community based or campus based groups to address a single need • Data-based • Short-term and specific • Typically use “power” to achieve goals

16. “Elite” Coalitions Pros & Cons • Pros: • Action oriented • High success for implementation on single issue • No mission drift • Cons: • Require data • Require access to people with power to make change

17. Campus Partners • AOD prevention and wellness • Campus security/police • Medical, health, and mental health counseling services • Dean of Students • Judicial affairs • Residence life • Faculty • Admissions • Athletics • Students • Other key stakeholders depending on goals

18. Campus Task Group Activities • Review campus policies and practices • Penalties for underage drinking on campus • Parental notification • Penalties for off-campus violations • Tailgating policies and practices Develop or advocate for: • Increased and consistent enforcement of policies • Coordinated efforts and messages • Late-night alcohol-free activities • Messages to new students and parents

19. Community Partners • Business owners, including alcohol outlets • Landlords • Police department • Residents • Local media • Elected officials • Emergency room staff • Community prevention organization

20. Community Activities • Assessment of local alcohol policies • Increased enforcement of MLDA and other alcohol-related laws • Responsible beverage service • Restrictions on outlet density and happy hours • Working with landlords to decrease disorderly parties • Engaging local elected officials and other key stakeholders • Partnering with businesses to offer alternatives to drinking

21. Statewide Partners • Alcohol beverage control agency—licensing and enforcement • Other law enforcement agencies • Elected officials • State highway safety/transportation departments • Substance abuse prevention and treatment • Parent groups • Drunk driving prevention organizations • 2 and 4 year colleges throughout the state

22. State Association of Colleges and Universities • Share information on effective prevention strategies • Unified voice on state laws and practices • Keg registration • Dramshop laws • “Happy hours” and other reduced-price promotions • Increased penalties for illegal service to minors • Increase support for law enforcement • Responsible beverage service • Increase alcohol excise taxes

23. Key elements of statewide coalitions • Develop capacity of campus teams and leaders: environmental strategies, coalition building, strategic planning • Conduct problem analysis/needs assessment • Recruit key players • Develop and implement a strategic plan and evaluate efforts—both locally and statewide • Mobilize presidential leadership • Sustain momentum

24. For Coalitions to be successful… • Leadership from senior administration • Strong core of committed partners • Inclusive and broad-based membership • Consensus on purpose and goals • Focus members on appropriate tasks to maintain interest and engagement • Think and plan strategically!

25. Questions?

26. Contact us….. Web site:http://HigherEdCenter.ed.gov E-mail: HigherEdCtr@edc.org tdowns@edc.org Phone: (800) 676-1730 TDD Relay-friendly, Dial 711