Substance Use Among Asian-American Adolescents: Perceptions of Use and Preferences for Prevention Programming

Rarely has substance use prevention programming targeted Asian-American adolescents. Using a focus group methodology, we explored perceptions of substance use and preferences for prevention programming among 31 Asian-American adolescents in New York City. Participants considered substance use common in the community. Factors contributing to substance use among Asian-American adolescents (e.g., peer pressure, pressure to achieve, family factors, and community influence) were identified, and the need for prevention programs tailored for the Asian-American community was highlighted. Participants discussed preferred program content, delivery settings, and recruitment and retention strategies. Despite the favorable attitude for family-based prevention programming, participants raised potential issues concerning the feasibility of such a program. Study findings facilitate understanding of Asian-American adolescents' substance use behavior and shed light on prevention program development for this underserved population.     

Filling the Prevention Gap: Multi-factor, Multi-system, Multi-level Intervention

The mixed effectiveness of prevention programming is illustrated by recent increases in adolescent substance abuse, an escalating delinquency rate, and increasing numbers of youths suffering the consequences of sexual promiscuity. Such increases suggest that many prevention activities may be insufficiently comprehensive. This paper proposes a model for comprehensive intervention. First, it describes the recent increases in substance abuse, delinquency, and sexual promiscuity. Next, it discusses implications for comprehensive planning from the prevention literature. Third, it suggests three characteristics of prevention planning necessary to insure optimal effectiveness. Finally, it makes specific recommendations for including these characteristics in prevention programming.     

Developing and Implementing a Senior Community Based Fall Prevention and Home Safety Program

Occupational therapists are primary candidates in taking a proactive role in meeting the community dwelling senior citizen's safety, environmental, and cognitive needs through the development of community based programs in conjunction with aging organizations. The purpose of this paper is to provide recommendations to occupational therapists in developing, implementing, and marketing a senior community based fall prevention and home safety program in conjunction with a Council on Aging and occupational therapy outpatient private practice.     

Workplace Drug Abuse Prevention Initiatives: A Review

Likely key elements of effective prevention strategies emerging from the literature (and from discussions with experts) are summarized. These include: (1) program content based on proven prevention theory and research; (2) comprehensive approaches that address multiple risk and protective factors, and generalize across settings; (3) material that is relevant during important transitions in an employee's life and career (4) sensitivity to the culture of the workplace and community; (5) sufficient dosage and follow-up; (6) use of interactive teaching techniques; (7) training for prevention program providers; and (8) evaluation to know that the intervention had the desired effect on behavior. Evaluation of workplace substance abuse prevention has been limited; the need for future research is discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of how to increase interest in substance abuse prevention by employers.     

Community health promotion: The church as partner

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature relative to church-based health promotion programs to assist health professionals in establishing effective prevention alliances with African-American churches. While the literature describing the role of churches, particularly African-American, is limited, the available evidence supports the assertion that many churches are engaged in providing primary prevention, preventive health, and social services to at risk populations. Two mini-cases, illustrative of programs which have been reported in the literature, are presented. What each program had in common is an alliance between ministers, health professionals, and trained church volunteers. Pastors acted as gatekeepers and advocates for a health program. The health professionals served as consultants (particularly in technical design, training, and evaluation). Interested church members, once trained, conducted health programs serving themselves, fellow members, and their community.     

Substance use among Asian-American adolescents: perceptions of use and preferences for prevention programming

Rarely has substance use prevention programming targeted Asian-American adolescents. Using a focus group methodology, we explored perceptions of substance use and preferences for prevention programming among 31 Asian-American adolescents in New York City. Participants considered substance use common in the community. Factors contributing to substance use among Asian-American adolescents (e.g., peer pressure, pressure to achieve, family factors, and community influence) were identified, and the need for prevention programs tailored for the Asian-American community was highlighted. Participants discussed preferred program content, delivery settings, and recruitment and retention strategies. Despite the favorable attitude for family-based prevention programming, participants raised potential issues concerning the feasibility of such a program. Study findings facilitate understanding of Asian-American adolescents' substance use behavior and shed light on prevention program development for this underserved population.     

Barriers and facilitators to childhood obesity prevention among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Victoria,Australia

Objective: Childhood obesity is rising among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups who show poor engagement in obesity prevention initiatives. We examined the barriers and facilitators to the engagement of CALD communities in obesity prevention initiatives. Methods: We used the nominal group technique to collect data from 39 participants from Vietnamese, Burmese, African, Afghani and Indian origins living in disadvantaged areas of Victoria, Australia. Data analysis revealed ranked priorities for barriers and facilitators for CALD community engagement in obesity prevention initiatives. Results: CALD parents identified key barriers as being: competing priorities in the post‐migration settlement phase; language, cultural and program accessibility barriers; low levels of food and health literacy; junk food advertisement targeting children; and lack of mandatory weight checks for schoolchildren. Key facilitators emerged as: bicultural playgroup leaders; ethnic community groups; and school‐based healthy lunch box initiatives. Conclusion: This study has identified several policy recommendations including: the implementation of robust food taxation policies; consistent control of food advertising targeting children; improving CALD health literacy using bicultural workers; and matching health promotional materials with CALD community literacy levels. Implications for Public Health: These recommendations can directly influence public health policy to improve the engagement of CALD communities in obesity prevention services and ultimately reduce the widening obesity disparities in Australia.     

A Framework for Understanding “Evidence” in Prevention Research and Programs

This report provides a multidimensional framework for understanding the meaning of evidence in prevention science. Six themes comprise the framework, each with impact on the meaning of evidence. (1) There are rigorous prevention scientific strategies now in use; each has shared but also unique requirements for the meaning of evidence. Some are directed at individuals, others at small social contexts, others at larger societal structures. (2) The phases of prevention research have shared but also unique requirements for evidence. These include efficacy, effectiveness, sustainability, going-to-scale, and sustaining programs systemwide. (3) Prevention programs address different segments of the population defined by levels of risk: the total population; a smaller subpopulation at increased risk; or a still smaller subpopulation at very high risk. The levels influence the meaning of evidence. (4) Economic analysis and economic evidence must become a central part of prevention research. These are needed for appropriate policy decision making and for assessing long-term benefits. (5) Collaboration is required for rigor in prevention research: including researchers, but also policy makers, program advocates and leaders, and community and institutional leaders. Broad ownership is critical for implementing rigorous research and for sustaining program fidelity. (6) Acceptance of a multidimensional framework for understanding evidence is essential across those agencies and institutions that carry out and/or use prevention science. The more widely the vision of the prevention field is shared, and the more the various qualities and rules of evidence are accepted and implemented, the better the quality will be of prevention research and programs.     

Needs for Youth Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention in Schools and Communities

Substance abuse and violence among today's youth are at an all time high. Numerous prevention programs have been implemented to address these issues. Not all are successful. Research has found that when schools and communities are involved in the planning of prevention programs, youth are more cognizant of risk factors and of behaviors that strengthen risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the emerging needs for prevention and health education among youth, and to identify effective approaches for prevention program development and service delivery in schools and communities. This study surveyed 312 youth prevention specialists, school and community health educators and counselors, and parents in a regional sample of ten states. Results indicated that substance abuse and violence are the two most critical and priority issues in need of comprehensive prevention. Multiple prevention service delivery strategies appropriate to youth, including training, technical assistance, conferencing and networking, needs assessment and evaluation, and information requests are discussed in detail. Implications for prevention programming emphasized reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors, reaching and motivating youth participation.     

Assessing Community-Based Injury Prevention Services in U.S. Children's Hospitals

ObjectiveNot-for-profit hospitals are required to meet federal reporting requirements detailing their community benefit activities, which support their tax-exempt status. Children''s hospitals have long provided community injury prevention (IP) programming and thus can inform public health outreach work in other areas. This work describes IP programming as a community service offered by children''s hospitals in the U.S.MethodsThe IP specialist at 232 US-based member institutions of the Children''s Hospital Association were invited to complete an assessment of their hospital''s IP outreach programming.Results47.7 percent of hospitals request financial data from IP programming for tax reporting purposes. Almost all offer injury prevention (IP) services; the majority are in the community (60.3%) and 34.5% are hospital-based. Most IP units are independent (60.3%) and 71.8% are responsible for their own budgets.ConclusionsBy integrating dissemination and implementation sciences and community health needs assessments, these findings can help advance community services provided by hospitals to impact public health.