SEOW Community Readiness Survey Interpretation Guide

EXISTING PREVENTION EFFORTS A list the substance abuse prevention programs, activities, services, and policies that are in place in your county, who they serve and their funding source. This list is useful for the infrastructure assessment (e.g., infrastructure worksheet or grid) and determining gaps in existing services.

COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF PREVENTION EFFORTS This section indicates the extent to which people in your county are aware of substance abuse prevention efforts as well as the need and plans for expansion of these efforts.

Strategies for increasing community awareness of existing efforts:  Promote prevention efforts through a website, brochure, or billboard  Presentations to relevant groups (e.g., parent groups)  Postings in church bulletins and club newsletters  Promotion of use and consequences of use statistics through various media (e.g., radio, newspaper, posters)  In-service trainings for health providers  Plan publicity efforts associated with start-up of program (open house)  Onsite visit of a program that is successful in the community (make sure you tell the media!)  Hold special recognition events for local supporters or volunteers (give out an award)

LEADERSHIP This section indicates the extent to which leaders in your community are aware and in support of prevention efforts in your community. A list of prevention leaders is also generated, which is useful in identifying key stakeholders, workgroup members, and data sources.

Strategies for increasing awareness of existing efforts among leaders in your community:  Involve non-prevention related organizations in prevention efforts (e.g., inviting church elders to join a workgroup)  Promote prevention efforts through presentations to groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s office, and local celebrities

COMMUNITY CLIMATE This section indicates the extent to which community members perceive substance abuse as a problem and the level of tolerance associated with the behavior.

Strategies for increasing awareness of the problem of substance abuse:  Highlight the relationship between more tolerated gateway drugs (e.g., alcohol) and the use of illicit drugs (e.g., meth)  Stress the relationship between drug use and poor academic performance to parents and educators  Engage local business community and solicit financial support from them (give business owners specific examples of how your cause affects their bottom line “meth use and house fires effect insurance rates”)

-Prepared by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center-  Discuss local incidents related to the issue (e.g., car accident where alcohol was involved) along with local statistics (e.g., comparison of local DUI rates with state rates)  Compare health facts with other local fact (more alcohol outlets than fast food restaurants)  Determine and publicize the economic and societal costs of the problem to the community  Create or use a “symbol” for your cause (bracelet, pin)

COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE This section indicates the extent to which community members are aware of the problems associated with substance abuse as well as the types of information available and the sources.

Strategies for increasing community knowledge:  Educate parents, teachers, and the wider community on the importance of risk and protective factors  Visit existing groups to inform them of the issue (rotary, PTA)  Get on the agenda of unrelated community groups (disability coalition, humane society)  Plan your own events (picnic, walkathon, town hall meeting)  Publish newspaper op/eds (have someone on your coalition do this weekly)

RESOURCES FOR PREVENTION This section indicates the resources (expertise, skill, financial support, physical space, interagency collaboration, community support) available for prevention efforts in your community.

Strategies for increasing resources:  Tap into resources available from your local universities (evaluation, statistics, curricula), local government (alcohol policies), and law enforcement / judicial system (enforcement of existing drug laws, creation of a drug court or diversion program)  Utilize key leaders to participate in local radio and television shows (be sure this spokesperson does not have an undisclosed personal history that could undermine credibility of your efforts such as a DUI)  Begin to initiate policy change (no alcohol on campus)

DEMOGRAPHICS Basic demographic information, occupation and personal awareness of substance abuse efforts for each respondent. This information is useful for categorizing responses.

[Insert Tables]

COMMUNITY CONTACTS Any other community leaders or individuals who are knowledgeable about substance abuse prevention that are available for contact. This is helpful for additional data collection.

-Prepared by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center-