Building a solid foundation for delivering and sustaining effective substance abuse and mental health services.

SPF SIG Goals:

• Prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse, including childhood and underage drinking
• Reduce substance abuse-related problems in communities
• Build prevention capacity and infrastructure at the State and community levels
• Implement a process of infusing data across all Strategic Prevention Framework steps for improved decision making

Connecticut's SPF Activities:

• Conducting statewide and regional needs assessments utilizing existing ATOD consumption and consequence data
• Developing a comprehensive Connecticut strategic plan
• Mobilizing and building state/local capacity to address identified gaps and needs
• Implementing and evaluating evidence-based prevention strategies
• Monitoring and evaluating effectiveness, sustaining effective prevention interventions and infrastructure activities, and improving or replacing those that are not successful

Connecticut's Benefits:

• Opportunities consistent with and supporting the recommendations of the State Prevention Council
• Provide flexible funding addressing substance abuse prevention needs, which cut across the lifespan and compliments interagency initiatives
• Implementation of a statewide systemic planning process using the Strategic Prevention Framework at the state and regional levels

Core Concepts:

• $11.8 million dollar award
• A five year cooperative agreement between SAMHSA and the Single State Agency - CT DMHAS
• Outcome-based prevention framework
• Youth and adult target population
• Guided by a state level SPF SIG Advisory Board
• Utilizing state epidemiological work groups for data gathering and analysis
• Using data to inform/drive decisions

In Partnership With:

• The Governor's Office
• Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Department of Education
• Department of Children and Families
• Department of Mental Retardation
• Department of Public Health
• Department of Social Services
• Judicial Branch
• Office of Policy and Management
• Connecticut Prevention Network

Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)

For additional information, contact the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at 860.418.6827.

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