SPR 2017
CALL FOR PAPERS

Prevention and Public Systems of Care: Research, Policy and Practice

Hyatt Regency Washington, Washington, DC
May 30 - June 02, 2017

Over the last 25 years, the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) has established itself as the leading scientific organization devoted to advancing prevention science to promote health and well-being. The cornerstone of SPR's efforts is the Annual Meeting, where the prevention science community, including researchers, practitioners, advocates, administrators, and policy-makers, come together to discuss advances in prevention science and strategies to achieve this goal.

This year's conference theme, Prevention and Public Systems of Care: Research, Policy and Practice offers the opportunity to consider ways in which the prevention science community can effectively contribute to improving health prevention and promotion practice, reducing health disparities, and achieve health equity within and across populations around the world through public systems of care. Government and public health care systems are increasingly focusing on the importance of prevention in improving the health of all. For example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the National Prevention Council and called for the development of the National Prevention Strategy to realize the health benefits of prevention for all Americans. Through these types of initiatives and other health-care reform initiatives prevention science has the opportunity to lead in the integration of prevention in health care and shift from a focus on treatment of disease to one focused on prevention and promotion of population-level health. Prevention science is uniquely positioned to inform science-based efforts for implementation and integration of evidence-based programs in health care systems and communities to create opportunities for improved physical, emotional, and social health for all.

Consistent with the conference theme, we encourage submissions related to: (1) evidence-based approaches for integrating prevention programs into health care systems, (2) public investments and policies that address prevention and health promotion, and (3) the role of prevention in health care systems to address health disparities and inequities. Cross-cultural and international studies on how policy enactment has played a role in implementing prevention programs through public systems of care are encouraged. Topics focused on this year’s special theme can be directed at populations across the lifespan and in a variety of settings that interact with public systems of care and are influenced by public health policy.

The SPR Program Committee invites submissions for the conference that fit within this broad theme as well as the related special themes described below. We will also consider proposals that focus on the core areas of interest to SPR, the general themes including research related to epidemiology and etiology, development and testing of interventions, implementation and dissemination strategies, innovative methods and statistics, and research, policy, and practice (see below). Submissions are encouraged from researchers and policy-makers at all stages of their career and from varied backgrounds including public health, education, social work, human services, criminal justice, medical and bio-behavioral sciences, developmental science, social science, and genetics.

Special Conference Themes

Each year, SPR selects special themes designed to highlight specific areas of research relevant to prevention scientists. These special themes guide the development of plenary sessions, symposia, and preconference workshops.

1. Building Healthier Communities through Investments in Prevention

   Public, government, and private investments in prevention efforts have focused on building healthier communities through housing, education, transportation, food availability, environment, and the workplace. Those who live in safe homes and neighborhoods with access to healthy food, space for physical activity and transportation, receive quality education, have adequate resources to be self-sufficient (e.g. living wage, food security, stable employment), and have access to high quality preventive services tend to be healthier throughout their lives and live longer. Building physically and emotionally healthier communities requires the integration of innovative and evidence-based approaches imbedded in those communities to promote positive health and well-being of all. Investments such as Pay for Success and Social Impact Bonds create opportunities to bring new and reliable resources to evidence-based prevention programs. Effective policies supporting these and similar initiatives are critical to the success of these investments. Proposals are encouraged that advance understanding of when and how policy and public investments to implement evidence-based prevention approaches are effective in building healthier communities.

2. Prevention in Primary Care: Investments, Policy, and Implementation

   There is accumulating evidence of the effectiveness of programs, benefits, and policies that promote physical and behavioral health and emotional well-being of individuals and families. These include, but are not limited to, programs aimed at reducing rates of child behavior problems, alcohol and substance use, obesity, and mental health problems. Delivering programs that work into existing models of care, like primary care settings, is critical for promoting the reach, availability, and sustainability of programs and increasing their potential for public health impact. Proposals are encouraged that focus on understanding the integration, implementation, access, and sustainability of evidence-based programs in primary care. In addition, proposals are encouraged that highlight variations or special considerations for prevention in primary care to address population or gender disparities, innovative methods for delivery of prevention programs, and research and practice partnerships.

3. Promoting health equity and decreasing disparities through Public Systems of Care and Policy

   Health inequities and disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles in accessing health care and prevention interventions based on their economic and/or social status. These include a person’s racial or ethnic group, religion, economic status, gender and sexual identity, geographic location, mental health, disability or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion. The goal of creating health equity and improving health among groups that experience disparities require special efforts. One of the goals of the ACA in the U.S. is to increase access, promote equity, and decrease disparities. Increased public, government, and private investments in prevention efforts have promise to address these disparities and inequities. Proposals are encouraged that advance understanding of (a) risk and protection across and within populations, (b) the impact of public systems of care on disparities in health care and health, (c) prevention efforts that address health disparities, and (d) policies that promote equity, health, and well-being.

   Submissions across the three special themes are encouraged that address effective strategies outside of the U.S. that can help inform domestic efforts; cost and cost-effectiveness of prevention efforts; and workforce development.

General Conference Themes: Advances across the Stages of the Prevention Research Cycle

1. Epidemiology and Etiology

   Submissions under this theme are focused on describing the distribution and patterns of injury and disease (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease, substance use disorders, depression, and HIV/AIDS) as well as on identifying risk and protective targets of preventive interventions, especially those with a developmental and/or lifespan approach, or that include neurobiological, genetic, or contextual factors.

2. Development and Testing of Interventions

   Prevention interventions can be tested for efficacy under conditions of high quality assurance and strong research designs (“proof of concept”) and tested for effectiveness under real world conditions in settings and systems. Submissions reporting the findings from efficacy or effectiveness trials (including pilot studies with preliminary outcome data) are welcomed, and those that combine the findings of such trials with one of the special conference themes are particularly encouraged.

3. Dissemination and Implementation Science

   Dissemination, implementation, and operations research bridge the gap between research and everyday practice through a dynamic, transactional process between the public health community and researchers. Submissions under this theme should advance the scientific understanding of dissemination and implementation, including cost-efficient sustainability of preventive interventions into systems. Presentations that focus on program dissemination and implementation outcomes, improve dissemination and implementation processes, or identify individual, provider, organizational, and/or system levels factors that contribute to dissemination, implementation, and effectiveness are encouraged.

4. Innovative Methods and Statistics

   "Cutting edge" studies and methodological analyses that address measurement, statistical, and design challenges to prevention science are invited. Examples may include systems science approaches (e.g., computational modeling and simulation, network analysis, and engineering control methods) to conceptualize prevention at the micro- or macro-levels of analyses; alternative intervention designs for when randomization is not possible; new methods for optimization of interventions; adaptive interventions and SMART designs; and innovative analytic approaches for incorporating intensive longitudinal data and/or real time data capture in prevention science research. Presentations should highlight the challenges related to prevention science that these innovative design and statistical methods can address and additional benefits gained by using these techniques.

5. Research, Policy and Practice

   Decision makers around the world are emphasizing evidence-based policy reform. In the U.S., the federal administration supports rigorous evaluation of social interventions, use of preventive interventions that demonstrate strong evidence of effectiveness, and analysis of the financial benefits that offset or outweigh costs. There are also new policy initiatives at the state and national levels such as changes in the legal status of marijuana and new approaches to improving the educational system where evidence is needed to guide further policy change. This theme encourages submissions that evaluate or estimate the outcomes of planned, new or existing policies, the impact of efficacious programs in emerging policy contexts, as well as submissions that demonstrate how empirical research has been used to inform and guide new policies. In addition, research that describes and evaluates the processes by which policies have been formed, developed, and implemented are encouraged. A wide variety of content areas are welcomed, including emergent areas such as marijuana legalization (What are the consequences of legalization of adult cannabis use on youth cannabis use and related risk behaviors?), recurring areas of concern such as cancer screening or HIV antiretroviral therapy compliance (What are effective strategies for reaching high-priority populations?), education policy (What policies and practices contribute to the well documented racial disparities in exclusionary discipline and expulsion?), gun safety and obesity prevention (What is the impact of national and local laws and policies?), and bullying laws and policies. Proposals that combine the findings of such research with one of the special conference themes are particularly encouraged. International research and/or comparative research across policy contexts are especially encouraged.

NIDA International SPR Poster Session

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is sponsoring an international poster session. Posters will highlight drug abuse prevention and/or drug-related HIV prevention research completed in international settings by international, domestic, and cross-nation teams of researchers. A separate call for submissions to this international poster session is issued.

To submit to the NIDA International SPR Poster Session:

• Select "Individual Poster Presentations"
• When you select the theme, select "NIDA International SPR Poster Session"

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Abstract submission guidelines for all presentation formats including the new TED-like Talks is available at:
http://www.preventionresearch.org/2017-annual-meeting/abstract-submission-guidelines/

Begin a submission to the following: