(a) Prevention is the initial phase of an overall continuum of services consisting of prevention, intervention/treatment and continuing care. Prevention services are provided to the general public and to individuals in high risk groups who have not yet been identified as substance abusers. Prevention services provide opportunities by which individuals and groups acquire the knowledge and skills to promote optimal functioning and to avoid or protect themselves from the substances, conditions, or situations which are known to contribute to drug use, alcohol abuse, or other disruptive life events. Prevention services are planned and proactive, promote health and well-being, and reduce risk factors associated with alcohol and other drug abuse. Specific types of prevention services include: - (i) Information: Services which provide awareness and knowledge of the nature and extent of alcohol and other drug use, abuse, and addiction and their effects on individuals, families, and communities. Information services provide knowledge and awareness of available prevention and treatment programs and services. Information programming includes such activities as appropriately targeted media campaigns, fliers, posters, brochures, or drug information seminars for youth, parents, and other target groups.
- (ii) Education: Services that assist individuals to develop or improve their critical life skills. Critical life skills include decision making, peer resistance, coping with stress, problem solving, interpersonal and intra-personal communication, systematic thinking, and judgment abilities.
- (iii) Alternatives: Services that provide challenging positive growth experiences in which people can develop self-discipline, confidence, personal awareness, selfreliance, and independence they need to become socially mature individuals. Alternative prevention programs are designed to provide positive alternatives to drug-taking behavior through a variety of community activities. The intention is that healthy activities will meet the need filled by alcohol and other drugs.
- (iv) Community Coordination and Training: cooperative networking activities, action planning, and technical assistance provided to community individuals, groups, or agencies.
- (v) Early Intervention: Services which focus on early detection and remedial action among persons who may be experiencing alcohol and other drug related problems and to refer them to appropriate services to prevent development of more serious problems. Services may include a variety of activities such as groups for high-risk youth, diversion classes, and student assistance programs.
- (vi) Social Policy and Environmental Change: Services which establish or change written and unwritten community standards, codes, or attitudes thereby influencing alcohol and other drug use in the general population.
(b) Organization and Staffing - (i) The organization offering substance abuse prevention shall identify a contact person for prevention services.
- (ii) Program Planning
- (A) The organization shall evaluate community prevention needs at least every four (4) years.
- (B) There is a plan derived from the needs evaluation and updated bi-annually which contains, at minimum, the following:
- (1.) Identified priority populations within the community for services;
- (2.) Goals and measurable objectives;
- (3.) Specified services which are intended to achieve the goals and objectives and which are of sufficient quantity and duration to effect change; and
- (4.) Procedures which will permit appropriate evaluation of the program.
- (iii) Prevention Records: The program shall maintain written records of prevention activities and services provided, including:
- (C) Hours of service provided;
- (D) Hours of preparation time;
- (E) Population served and number of recipients;
- (F) A description of the program, activity, or service; and
- (G) Goal(s) to which the activity or service relates;