Prevention Plan

neighbors, friends and members of groups and associations to generate social capital and the ability to work together for a common good.

This is especially true for communities that may lack resources. Social capital can be a substitute for human and physical capital (Collier 1998). Social capital can have a

positive impact on the well-being and prosperity of an entire community (Narayan and Pritchett 1997). Social capital increases with use, making it a particularly worthwhile investment.

The membership has identified strategies that impact the community’s prioritized risk and protective factors as well as associated  problem behaviors.

Building partnerships to support the well being of Latino youth and families in Clark County is a primary priority for to all members.  LUZ Community Development Coalition is committed to supporting families and the positive development of youth in through methods proven to reduce problem behaviors including substance abuse. 

 LUZ facilitates an ongoing comprehensive community building process to:

·Determine whether community members view substance abuse     as a problem, and if they are ready to be proactive in the resolution of the problem.

· Review existing youth surveys and other local data to determine what risk and protective factors exist in the community.

· Prioritize the risk and protective factors which should be addressed.

· Determine existing community resources.

· Determine who will benefit most from potential programs and services.

· Identify programs and services proven to effectively address the prioritized risk and protective factors.

· Evaluate whether prevention programs and services are accomplishing the specified goals.

· Build local capacity and support for a comprehensive continuum of prevention services.

· Engage the needs assessment process on a continuous basis and use of the data as a basis for decision making.

· Promote of early identification and intervention within the communities of highest need.

· Ensure that the continuum of prevention services are culturally   relevant and sensitive.

· Implement sustainable evidence based programs, strategies, policies, and practices.

· Inclusively seek partnership and  collaboration with a wide range of community representatives and organizations.

· Planning and implementation as an ongoing and evolving process.

 · Review progress made and share information with community members and others with an interest.

 Luz will continue to work  in developing the infrastructure and building capacity in the Latino Community.  We will also engage our Community Partners and  representatives to assess our communities needs and coordinate resources to support a comprehensive continuum of prevention services for the Clark County Latino Communities.

Types of Prevention Efforts

Prevention strategies have been categorized in a variety of different ways. SAMHSA/ CSAP promotes the following six strategies:

1. Information strategies seek to provide awareness and knowledge about: 1) the extent and effects of substance use and abuse on individuals, families, and communities; and 2) the prevention programs and services that exist in the community.
2. Education strategies seek to increase communication on activities that will affect critical life and social skills, including decision-making, refusal skills, critical analysis (for example, of media messages), and systematic judgment abilities.
3. Problem Identification and Referral strategies seek to identify those who use illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and refer them to prevention-education and treatment programs.
4. Alternatives are strategies that seek to provide substance-free activities for targeted populations.
5. Community-based strategies seek to enhance the community's ability to effectively provide prevention programs and services. These strategies include networking, organizing, coalition building, collaboration activities, planning, and program development.
6. Environmental strategies seek to establish or change written and unwritten community laws, standards, codes, and attitudes in order to lessen the extent and effects of substance use.