Sustainable, Ecological, Sustainable, Ecological, Community-based Model Community-based Model

forfor Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention

Incorporating the Promotion of Incorporating the Promotion of Developmental Assets Developmental Assets

by the by the Faith-based Community:Faith-based Community:

Presented by: Beth Bascom (November 8, 2004)Presented by: Beth Bascom (November 8, 2004)

Adolescent substance abuseAdolescent substance abuse is a is a serious health issueserious health issue

• “Most destructive health and social problem facing our Nation today” (Donna Shalala)

• Despite spending $250 billion/year on substance abuse prevention, our youth continue to use at unacceptable rates.

A Abbott (2002) Health & Social

WorkMonitoring the Future National Survey Results on Adolescent Drug Use: Overview of Key Findings, 2001. NIH, 2001

YouthOrganization

ATOD Program

Government

FaithCongregation

FaithCongregation

Business

Family

School

CommunityCenter

SportLeague

Current Best Practice: Ecological, Community-based ModelEcological, Community-based Model

The current ecological model includes a multi-faceted, community-based approach that targets not only people’s individual behavior, but the social/political/physical systems that surround and impact them.

Grzywacz & Fuqua (2000), Behavioral MedicineMerzel & D'Afflitti (2003), AJPH

Current Best Practice: Protective FactorsProtective Factors

“ Influences that modify, ameliorate, or alter a person’s response to some environmental hazard that predisposes to a maladaptive outcome”

Rutter (1985), British J of Psychiatry

Protective Factors Protective Factors Research FindingResearch Finding

• More risk factors an individual has, the greater the impact of protective factors.

Scales,et al (2002) J of Early AdolescenceRegnerus (2003), J of Scientific Study of

ReligionOman (2004), AJPH

Protective Factor ModelProtective Factor Model

““Views youth as Views youth as resourcesresources instead of instead of potential problems,potential problems,

focusing on providing them with an focusing on providing them with an environment that encourages positive environment that encourages positive

growth and development, growth and development, despite potential adversity.”despite potential adversity.”

Oman (2004), AJPH

Powerful Protective Factor: Powerful Protective Factor: 40 Developmental Assets40 Developmental Assets

• External– Support– Empowerment– Boundaries &

Expectations– Constructive Use of

Time

• Internal– Commitment to

Learning– Positive Values– Social

Competencies– Positive Identity

www.search-institute.org (2000)

The Power of The Power of Developmental AssetsDevelopmental Assets

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40

Alcohol UseViolenceIllicit Drug useSexual Activity

Search Institute

9 Developmental Assets9 Developmental Assets

• Peer role models

• Use of time (religion)

• Responsible choices (females)

• Family communication

• Non-parental adult role models

• Use of time (groups/sports)

• Community involvement

• Aspirations for the future

• Good health practices

Oman (2004) AJPH

Key Finding of RecentKey Finding of Recent StudyStudy

“The combination of assets may be more effective than

any single asset for preventing risk behavior.”

Oman (2004) AJPH

Protective Factor:Protective Factor: Religion Religion

Religion has consistently been demonstrated to be a protective factor for

a number of adolescent health-related outcomes.

Cochran (1992) J of Drug Issues Cook (Nov 2001) Mental Health, Religion & Culture Nonnemaker, et al. (Dec 2003) Soc Science & Medicine

Despite the robust research connecting religious faith and lower incident of substance abuse, there is a lack of ecological, community-

based intervention models that effectively incorporate the faith-

based community.

Key Components of Key Components of Community-based InterventionsCommunity-based Interventions

• Mobilizing the Community• Implementing Interventions in Multiple

Settings • Using Multiple Individual-level Intervention

Strategies• Developing Environmental Interventions

Merzel & D'Afflitti (2003) AJPH

YouthOrganization

ATOD Program

Government

FaithCongregation

FaithCongregation

Business

Family

School

CommunityCenter

SportsLeague

Mobilizing the Community through CoalitionsMobilizing the Community through Coalitions

Mobilizing the Community:Challenge

• Coalitions are complex organizations that require considerable effort to create and operate successfully.

Wandersman & Florin (2003) American Psychologist

Challenges of Including Faith Challenges of Including Faith Congregations in CoalitionsCongregations in Coalitions

• Nature of faith-based organization– Firmly held ideologies define who they are

• Perceptions– Interpretation of the 1st Amendment– Compromise convictions/ideologies (faith congregation)– Force convictions on others (other members of coalition)

• Youth leaders are very busy• Focused on own activities

Mobilizing the Community

• Are community-wide coalitions the only way to mobilize all elements of a community?

• Must all the elements of the community be involved in a coalition in order to successfully mobilize the community?

YouthOrganization

ATOD Program

Government

FaithCongregation

FaithCongregation

Business

Family

School

CommunityCenter

SportLeague

DA

Mobilizing the Community through Mobilizing the Community through Shared FocusShared Focus

DA

DA

DA

DADA

DA

DAD

A

DA

DA = Developmental Assets

YouthOrganization

ATOD Program

Government

FaithCongregation

FaithCongregation

Business

Family

School

CommunityCenter

SportLeague

DA

DADA

Implementing Interventions in Multiple Settings

through Shared Focusthrough Shared Focus

DA

DA

DA

DA

DAD

A

DA

DA = Developmental Assets

Is the Promotion of Developmental Assets Appealing to Faith

Organizations?

• Consistent with tenets/beliefs of most faith communities.

• Helps young people make healthy choices and grow in their faith.

• Fosters a congregational-wide commitment to young people.

• Provides opportunities to link with the broader community.

Is the Promotion of Developmental Assets Legal?

• Each organization, including various faith congregations, can promote the Developmental Assets (DA’s) within the context of their ideology (freedom of expression).

• If governmental funding is involved, the program promoting the DA’s can be designed within legal parameters (non-establishment).

• All programs, regardless of ideology, can be promoted as Asset Building (equal excess).

Example of Faith-based Program Unintentionally promoting Developmental Assets: Hoops and Homework*

• Positive Adult Relationships• Constructive Use of Time –Sports• Commitment to Learning

*After school program where students work on homework and then play basketball.

Example of Intentional Promotion of Developmental Assets: Hoops and Homework

• Positive Adult Relationship– Engage more adults– Train them in Asset

Building

• Constructive Use of Time –Sports– Train using “Hey

Coach” (Search Inst)

• Commitment to Learning

• ResponsibilityAll actions are framed

within context of personal choice and consequences.

• Peaceful Conflict Resolution– Consistent steps for

conflict resolution.– Consistent

consequences for non-peaceful resolution.

• Possible Goals of Coalition

– Engage all organizations in the community in the promotion of Developmental Assets.

– Promote Asset Building Programs.

– Provide community-wide Asset Building training.

YouthOrg

ATOD

Govern’t

FaithCong Faith

Cong

Busi-ness

Family

School

YouthCenter

Sport

DA

DA

DA

Coalition Driven Promotion of Coalition Driven Promotion of Developmental AssetsDevelopmental Assets

DA

DA

DADA

DA

DA

DA

DA = Developmental Assets