CADCA’s Got Outcomes! Awards Announced

Each year, CADCA invites coalition leaders across the country to nominate their coalition for a prestigious Got Outcomes! Coalition of Excellence Award. The goal of the program is to recognize coalitions that achieve measurable success in community-level substance abuse-related outcomes by implementing a comprehensive and feasible plan guided by local data.
 

This year, a panel of coalition experts at the federal, state and local levels named Van Buren County SAFE Coalition in Keosauqua, Iowa; the Prevention Council of Roanoke County in Roanoke, Va.; and the Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) in Branson, Mo. as CADCA's 2010 Got Outcomes! award winners.

“The professional growth over the past five years among AOD prevention coalitions has been phenomenal. Many coalitions across the country are achieving prevention outcomes and contributing to community-wide change. Each year the expectations for the Got Outcomes! candidates increase significantly. The communities that the Got Outcomes! winners work with are the true winners,” said Michael Browning, consultant and review panel member.

Applicants choose from three separate categories based on the substance abuse-related outcomes achieved and begin a rigorous two-phase application process requiring them to clearly communicate their story and contribution to community-level outcomes. The application process is meant to be a learning experience for all of the coalitions that apply. CADCA provides technical assistance and feedback throughout the process.

“Simply applying for this award takes coalitions through an important exercise of telling a clear and concise story that communicates their contribution to outcomes. Coalitions receive this award for demonstrating strong local data collection and data-driven planning and implementation of a comprehensive set of evidence-based programs, practices and policies” said Dr. Evelyn Yang, Deputy Director of Evaluation and Research at CADCA.

The Van Buren County SAFE Coalition located in southeast Iowa won the “Coalition of the Year” award, which recognizes an advanced coalition for successfully implementing comprehensive and collective strategies to achieve one or more targeted community-level reductions (long-term outcomes) for multiple substances. After gathering and analyzing key local assessment data, the coalition prioritized their focus on alcohol and tobacco availability and acceptability. They implemented a variety of strategic, data-driven community-level strategies including supporting compliance check operations, drafting and enhancing school and community policies, disseminating information and increasing awareness of the problems. The coalition has good trend data to support their contribution to a number of reductions in alcohol and tobacco use among teens. For example, among 11th grade students, past 30 day alcohol use decreased from 51 percent in 1999 to 34 percent in 2008 and past 30 day tobacco use decreased from 42 percent in 1999 to 19 percent in 2008.

The Prevention Council of Roanoke County in Virginia won in the “Coalition in Focus” award category, which highlights coalitions that demonstrate successful implementation of multiple strategies contributing to community-level reductions for a single substance abuse or substance abuse-related problem. After an analysis of community data revealed alcohol as the number one drug of choice for Roanoke high school youth, the coalition developed a plan to reduce the accessibility of alcohol to youth, change the community norms of adolescent alcohol use, and delay the age of onset of alcohol use. By implementing a comprehensive selection of behavior change strategies in the community, the coalition contributed to significant reductions in youth alcohol use. Lifetime use among high school students decreased from 73 percent in 2002 to 62 percent in 2010, past 30 day use decreased from 45.6 percent in 2002 to 36.3 percent in 2010, and middle school students are less likely to try alcohol before age 13.

The Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) received the “Milestones” award recognizing newer coalitions that demonstrate progress toward meeting long-term outcomes (reductions in substance abuse or substance abuse-related problems) as indicated by measurable, community-level changes in intermediate outcomes. The coalition gathered information using student surveys, archival data, interview and focus groups. They identified various community conditions including high alcohol outlet density, retailers selling to minors, and low perceptions of risk associated with underage drinking that contributed to the high levels of youth alcohol use. The coalition then implemented a comprehensive set of strategies such as coordinating an underage drinking awareness campaign, creating graduated sanctions for underage drinkers and drafting and enhancing local alcohol ordinances. Their efforts contributed to drastic changes in youth perceptions of access to alcohol, awareness of harm, and risky behaviors between 2008 and 2010. For example, fewer youth report that alcohol is “sort of easy” or “very easy” to get (70 percent in 2008 compared to 37.45 percent in 2010), and fewer youth report having ridden in the past 30 days with someone who had been drinking alcohol (27.5 percent in 2008 compared to 14.04 percent in 2010).

“These organizations are true leaders in the field of substance abuse prevention, exemplifying the excellent work that coalitions are doing around the country to prevent and reduce drug use,” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s chairman and CEO. “By using sound and strategic data-driven practices, CADCA’s Got Outcomes! winners are challenging community social norms and perceptions related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Congratulations to our winners for contributing to reductions in substance abuse and associated problems at the local level.”

The winning coalitions will receive their award onstage during the Awards Luncheon at CADCA’s Annual National Leadership Forum Feb. 7-10, 2011 at the National Harbor near Washington, D.C. In addition to national recognition among their peers, winners receive free registration, travel and accommodations for one individual to attend the 2011 Forum. Winners also participate in the poster session and Got Outcomes! workshop at the Forum and are featured in a variety of CADCA communications throughout the year.