Prevention Services & Programs
Programmatic Information
A major goal in Georgia is to implement “science-based” prevention throughout the state. Science-based (also referred to as “evidence-based” and “research-based”) practices are those that have demonstrated, through scientific methods, effectiveness in reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors.
Georgia currently has six statewide prevention programs funded out of the state office with federal substance abuse block grant funds:
Drugs Don't Work Program - is operated by the Georgia Drug Free Workplace Program, Inc., an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. It is designed to help employers become certified drug-free workplaces by establishing employee assistance programs and drug-free workplace policies.
A component of the Drug Don't Work Program is the Parents@Work program. Since employers have a vested interest in helping their employees prevent family substance abuse. Many human resource and employee assistance professionals believe that employees who have children with substance abuse problems are more likely to suffer from decreased morale and productivity. The Parents@Work program, a component of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, was developed to reach parents where they spend much of their time - at work. More information about this program may be found at http://www.theantidrug.com/atwork.
Top
Helpline Georgia – provides confidential, round the clock, crisis intervention, information and referral through a toll-free line. Callers can request help for substance abuse, gambling, family violence and sexual assault problems; report drug selling and child abuse; gain information on support and self-help groups, and obtain educational information and information on the Crime Victims Compensation Program. For more information, visit www.hodac.org, or call 1-800-338-6745.
Top
Maternal Substance Abuse (MSA) and Child Development Project – focuses on prevention of negative consequences of a mother’s drug abuse through a variety of services. For more information, visit www.emory.edu/MSACD
Top
The Red Ribbon Campaign – an annual week-long substance abuse awareness and prevention campaign that celebrates drug-free living and promotes on-going prevention activities in local communities. For more information, visit The Red Ribbon Campaign website.
Top
The Georgia Substance Abuse Prevention in Higher Education Initiative at the University of Georgia addresses collegiate alcohol and other drug use and abuse. Under contract to the Georgia Board of Regents, University of Georgia, this initiative is assessing ongoing needs of college communities across the state for prevention and intervention services and programs. These services and programs are developed under the Six Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Strategies, recommendations from NIAAA, the Higher Education Center’s Statewide Initiatives and Georgia Network of Colleges and Universities Standards. Specific activities include 1) conducting an ongoing needs assessment per requirements under the Strategic Prevention Framework for decision making to assess environmental and personal risk factors ; 2) researching national and community-level proven prevention programs and strategies that reduce risks associated with underage drinking, excessive use of alcohol, use of drugs, and attending injuries and violence, 3) increasing protective factors for the collegiate population and their surrounding communities through community engagement, collaboration and concerted effort. The initiative serves as the collegiate arm of the Office of Prevention Services and Programs and as such partners with a variety of state agencies to assure statewide coverage.
Top
The Georgia Alliance for Drug Endangered Children has recently been launched with the support of the Office of Prevention Services and Programs under the management of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Patterned after the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, the Georgia Alliance (GA DEC), promotes the multi-disciplinary team approach to addressing the multiplicity of problems faced by children victimized by the production, sale, and/or use of alcohol and illicit substances. Protocols for medical and psycho-social assessment of children, child protective services and child abuse investigations, clandestine methamphetamine lab disposal, law enforcement and prosecution, public education and awareness are included in this effort.
Top
Exemplary Substance Abuse Program Awards for Innovation - The Substance Abuse andMental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), in collaboration with the National Prevention Network, and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitons of America (CADCA) identifies and honors outstanding achievements in substance abuse prevention. Programs are reviewed and nominated by the NPN (National Prevention Network) representative in each state. The Exemplary Awards Program is designed to seek out programs that demonstrate results in areas such as individual child factors related to biology, behavior, personality, and family or environmental factors. Over 100 programs have been selected as Exemplary Award winners. Three Georgia programs have received this honor:
For 2002 programming awarded in 2003:
Drugs Don't Work, a statewide Drug Free Workplace program
S A F E ( The School and Family Effort) of the Dekalb County School System
For 2003 programming awarded in 2004:
CETPA (Clinic for the Education, Treatment and Prevention of Addiction, Inc./ La Clinica de Educacion, Tratamiento y Prevencion de Addiccion) Latino Youth After School Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Top
The Governor’s Cooperative Agreement Advisory Committee For Youth Substance Abuse Prevention was formulated by Governor Sonny Perdue through the State Incentive Planning Grant (SIPG) from VSAP/SAMHSA of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The goals of the SIPG are to (1) establish a SIG Advisory Committee, (2) develop a comprehensive statewide substance abuse prevention and early intervention strategy, and (3) determine and document the state’s capacity to deliver science-based prevention programming.
In addition, MHDDAD regional offices contract for a variety of prevention services.
Model programs implemented in Georgia
Please contact your Regional Office for more information about Prevention Programs in your area.
Top
|
