Strategizing for Success: How the Safe Streets of Shawnee Coalition Utilized the SPF-SIG to Guide Evidence-Based Program and Policy Implementation in Shawnee County, Kansas

Introduction: According to results from the 2007 Communities that Care Survey, Shawnee County youth reported some of the highest rates of underage drinking in the State of Kansas. The Safe Streets of Shawnee Coalition was selected as one of 14 community coalitions funded through the Kansas Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG). Following the community assessment, the coalition identified the most prevalent contributing factors to underage drinking in the community, which were the perceived lack of law enforcement, few opportunities for pro-social involvement, and poor academic achievement. The coalition then conducted research to identify evidence-based programs, policies, and practices that had been previously shown to be effective at addressing the risk factors for underage drinking.

Methods: This case study utilized a quasi-experimental, interrupted time series design to examine the effects of a coalition’s implementation of evidence-based strategies to prevent underage drinking. Strategies implemented by the coalition and its partners included Positive Action, Stay on Track (SOT), and Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA). Over 18,000 baseline and exit surveys were administered to Positive Action program participants in grades 5 through 10. Pre-and post-outcomes were tracked for a subset (27%) of participants using matched identifiers. Independent variables included measures of implementation fidelity and the number of community changes (new programs, policies, and practices) implemented. Dependent variables included past 30-day alcohol consumption and composite scales from the CTC survey (perceived law enforcement, academic achievement, and prosocial engagement).

Results: Safe Streets facilitated the adoption of substantial legislative and administrative policies following the implementation of the SPF. Furthermore, the prevalence of underage drinking declined, particularly among youth exposed to the curriculum-based program, Positive Action. The increase in policy and practice changes related to underage drinking suggests that the capacity-building and strategic planning components of the SPF were instrumental in directing the coalition’s efforts toward evidence-based initiatives (e.g., social hosting laws) that reduced underage drinking within the community.

Conclusion: This study supports the assertion that coalitions utilizing the SPF to guide the planning and implementation of comprehensive community prevention strategies can effectively address youth substance abuse through evidence-based program, policy and practice changes.