Using the Community Readiness Model in Native Communities (From Health Promotion and Substance Abuse Prevention Among American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: Issues in Cultural Competence, P 129-158, 2001, Joseph E. Trimble, Ph.D., and Fred Beauvais, Ph.D., eds. -- See NCJ-189792)

• NCJ Number: 189797
• Author(s): Pamela Jumper-Thurman Ph.D.; Barbara A. Plested; Ruth W. Edwards; Heather M. Helm; Eugene R. Oetting
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): P50DA07074; R49/CCR812737
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes a model for accurately assessing a community's level of readiness to develop and implement a drug and alcohol prevention program.

Abstract

The effects of alcohol and other drug abuse are recognized as a serious threat to communities in the United States. However, policy efforts and increased law enforcement may have only a minimal impact if the prevention strategies are not consistent with communities' level of readiness, are not culturally relevant, and are not community-specific. This article presents a model for assessing a community's readiness to initiate prevention strategies. It also introduces the concept of "community climate" and its impact on community readiness. The model can be used by community members to develop interventions appropriate to each stage of their communities' readiness, thus increasing the potential for strategies to be successful and improving the cost-effectiveness of prevention programs. The article discusses application of the community readiness model for other health and nutrition, environmental, social, and personal issues. Tables, references