Substance Abuse Prevention and Control
Prevention Services
Harm Reduction-Principles
Coalition-Building: Convening groups and individuals for broader community impact
The Prevention System of Services Unit serves all of Los Angeles County in providing the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control's (SAPC) prevention programs and initiatives.
The Prevention System of Services unit provides prevention program services and strategies that are designed to engage all community residents, public service organizations, and other concerned citizens.
Given the diversity of LAC residents, this unit ensures the practice of implementing programs and services that adequately and appropriately address the cultural, linguistic, and regional needs of communities and individuals.
The Prevention Program is responsible for program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation for Substance Abuse Prevention and Control's (SAPC) contracted substance abuse prevention contracts.
Prevention System of Services
SAPC's Prevention System of Services is comprised of a network of community-based organizations implementing evidence-based community- and individual-level services to address SAPC's Goals and Objectives. Prevention contractors determine which of the County's Goals and Objectives are of greatest priority in their target city(ies) and/or community(ies) based on data gathered during a local needs assessment and by implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Steps: Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
To learn more about the Strategic Planning Framework please visit the SAMHSA website.
SAPC's Goals:
To reduce underage and binge drinking, marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, prescription medication, over-the-counter (OTC), and inhalant use/misuse among youth and young adults residing in cities and communities in Los Angeles County.
SAPC's Objectives:
To reduce the access, availability, social norms, and community conditions that contribute to use and misuse of these priority substances within cities and communities in Los Angeles County.
The Prevention System of Services includes contractors that address substance use availability and accessibility through environmental efforts that change policies, ordinances, and practices that facilitate alcohol use within the target Service Planning Area (a specific geographical region in Los Angeles County). Programs generally work with local citizens and leaders, government officials, and businesses/organizations to change local conditions that contribute to alcohol use. Other contractors seek to change the local conditions that facilitate alcohol and drug use, identify individuals who could benefit from prevention services or contribute to prevention efforts, and change the knowledge and behaviors of youth and adults that contribute to community norms about alcohol and drug use. Depending on the program, services may focus on individual-level activities such as school-based prevention classes, or on community-level services such as making changes to the local environment or changing policies/practices that contribute to substance use and/or favorable norms around use. Other special prevention initiatives build partnerships for positive, healthy youth development and engage youth as active leaders, mentors, and advocates in county and statewide efforts to reduce access to and availability of alcohol and other drugs. Youth-adult partnership activities include educating policy-making officials, providing safe social outlets for youth, and hosting trainings and conferences on varying issues from leadership to social factors that contribute to substance abuse.
In addition, SAPC directly provides prevention programs and activities at public parks and eligible educational settings. These directly-operated County programs offer coordinated, County-wide prevention programs that are dedicated to serving youth, young adults, and the community at-large. These County-led programs implement evidence-based community and individual-level services offering a range of substance use prevention education and positive youth development programming, aimed to empower individuals to resist becoming involved in or divert from risky behaviors such as substance use, misuse, and abuse.
To find out more information about SAPC's Prevention System of Services, please contact a Prevention Services Provider.
The Prevention Program is responsible for program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation for Substance Abuse Prevention and Control's (SAPC) contracted substance abuse prevention contracts.
Prevention System of Services
SAPC's Prevention System of Services is comprised of a network of community-based organizations implementing evidence-based community- and individual-level services to address SAPC's Goals and Objectives. Prevention contractors determine which of the County's Goals and Objectives are of greatest priority in their target city(ies) and/or community(ies) based on data gathered during a local needs assessment and by implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Steps: Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
To learn more about the Strategic Planning Framework please visit the SAMHSA website.
SAPC's Goals:
To reduce underage and binge drinking, marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, prescription medication, over-the-counter (OTC), and inhalant use/misuse among youth and young adults residing in cities and communities in Los Angeles County.
SAPC's Objectives:
To reduce the access, availability, social norms, and community conditions that contribute to use and misuse of these priority substances within cities and communities in Los Angeles County.
The Prevention System of Services includes contractors that address substance use availability and accessibility through environmental efforts that change policies, ordinances, and practices that facilitate alcohol use within the target Service Planning Area (a specific geographical region in Los Angeles County). Programs generally work with local citizens and leaders, government officials, and businesses/organizations to change local conditions that contribute to alcohol use. Other contractors seek to change the local conditions that facilitate alcohol and drug use, identify individuals who could benefit from prevention services or contribute to prevention efforts, and change the knowledge and behaviors of youth and adults that contribute to community norms about alcohol and drug use. Depending on the program, services may focus on individual-level activities such as school-based prevention classes, or on community-level services such as making changes to the local environment or changing policies/practices that contribute to substance use and/or favorable norms around use. Other special prevention initiatives build partnerships for positive, healthy youth development and engage youth as active leaders, mentors, and advocates in county and statewide efforts to reduce access to and availability of alcohol and other drugs. Youth-adult partnership activities include educating policy-making officials, providing safe social outlets for youth, and hosting trainings and conferences on varying issues from leadership to social factors that contribute to substance abuse.
In addition, SAPC directly provides prevention programs and activities at public parks and eligible educational settings. These directly-operated County programs offer coordinated, County-wide prevention programs that are dedicated to serving youth, young adults, and the community at-large. These County-led programs implement evidence-based community and individual-level services offering a range of substance use prevention education and positive youth development programming, aimed to empower individuals to resist becoming involved in or divert from risky behaviors such as substance use, misuse, and abuse.
To find out more information about SAPC's Prevention System of Services, please contact a Prevention Services Provider.
