SPF-SIG

Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG)

In October 2004, Washington State received a Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) through the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention for approximately $10.17-million.  The project funding ended September 30, 2010. 

The goals of the grant were: 1) Prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse, including underage drinking; 2) Reduce substance-related problems in communities; 3) Build prevention capacities and infrastructure at state and community levels; and, 4) Implement a process of infusing data across all SPF steps for improved decision-making.

The project focused on using the five-step Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) planning model to reduce underage drinking in 12 communities, and on enhancing agency cooperation at the state level. The project was evaluated closely using a randomized treatment and control group study design with a number of data sources, including the statewide Healthy Youth Survey and other community-specific information, such as law enforcement data.

Evaluation Strategy

The final evaluation report on the SPF-SIG project is expected in late summer 2011 but cannot get underway until spring 2011 when the results of the 2010 administration of the Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) are available.  The HYS results will allow for analysis of the project’s two basic evaluation questions:

• Are communities that implement Strategic Prevention Framework more successful in reducing underage drinking and related problems than those that do not?

• What characteristics of SPF-SIG communities and their prevention efforts are associated with greater success in reducing underage drinking and related problems?

Project evaluators have already shown the following important developments in SPF-SIG communities during the project:

• Building and strengthening community coalitions in the face of either indifference, excessive passion and everything in between;

• Increased appreciation of prevention as a science, especially the importance of selecting and implementing evidence-based programs; and

• Demonstrating how evaluators and technical assistance providers can become integrally involved in the community coalition and mobilization efforts.

State Epidemiology Workgroup

In order to promote data-based decision-making, the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention requires that each SPF-SIG state maintain a State Epidemiology Workgroup (SEW). Washington State has been in the forefront of states collecting statewide needs assessment data. Therefore the SEW is able to refine their mandate to include: (a) study of health-related disparities among subpopulations of state residents; (b) coverage of its survey data collection systems to include older age groups and out-of-school youth; and (c) enhanced availability of data from other state systems at sub-county geographic levels.