Leadership

Prevention Network's Board of trustees, with 32 members representing Michigan's geography, populations, and various prevention sectors:

--Takes public positions on critical issues

-- Identifies needs, resources, and workable strategies in regard to achieving prevention goals

-- Works to create respect for and understanding of citizen involvement in prevention

-- Advocates for Prevention Network's unique constituency

-- Speaks up for holistic, public health oriented, and cultural change approaches to prevention.

PN creates initiatives and convenes task forces as needed to meet specific needs or address specific trends in prevention.
PN facilitates public involvement and advocacy by identifying issues, disseminating information, tracking policy developments, and providing assistance for effective involvement.
PN promotes and supports prevention strategies which address environmental issues.
PN promotes and supports prevention activity which substantially involves the target audience, especially youth.
PN promotes and supports prevention approaches which recognize and assist parents in their critical prevention role.

People PN works with:

The unique constituency Prevention Network serves is citizens who voluntarily become involved in ATOD prevention.

The volunteer prevention sector is greatly diverse. PN works with: parent groups; community coalitions; school-based programs; youth groups in schools, churches, recreation centers; arts organizations; neighborhood block clubs and other resident organizations; cultural diversity organizations; faith communities; civic groups; drinking/driving and other traffic safety organizations; law enforcement; and so forth.

Volunteer involvement in ATOD prevention is in every stage of development and understanding. In Michigan new groups are constantly forming and growing in their ability to deliver effective prevention in their communities, while established groups sustain, expand, or renew their efforts.

Prevention Network operates through a contract with Michigan Department of Community Health/Office of Drug Control Policy--Division of Substance Abuse and Addiction Services with additional funding from Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. Prevention Network's funders have liaison representation on the board.

A private, non-profit organization, Prevention Network is part of a statewide system for providing substance abuse services and achieving public support for prevention and treatment.

Prevention Network's role is to serve and represent the interests of the volunteer sector involved in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention.
To achieve prevention goals, Prevention Network convenes, coordinates, or supports statewide initiatives and the steering committees or coalitions formed to carry these out.
Prevention Network conveys information about state and federal policies, funding priorities, research findings, best practices, and guidelines, and other subjects which affect the efforts of the volunteer sector and prevention generally.
Through various means, Prevention Network is aware of the needs, challenges, and issues for community prevention groups, and responds by adapting its services, providing resources and informing policy makers.

Contact Prevention Network at 800/968-4968 or email pnoffice@preventionnetwork.org

Prevention Network Services

Prevention Network provide services to meet identified needs, determined through daily contact with community groups, and surveys of need conducted every five years since 1984.

Prevention Network has been funded by the state office of substance abuse services since 1984 to support volunteer community groups undertaking alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention. Since 1998, Prevention Network has also received funding from Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning for expanded services in the area of traffic safety, safe communities, and underage drinking prevention.

Technical assistance

Through a toll free number and on-site visits.
PN staff handle hundreds of calls a month.
PN staff provide over 5000 hours a year in technical assistance.
Volunteer board members provide many additional hours a year in technical assistance to Prevention Network's constituency.

Grants

Three grant program for substance abuse prevention projects. Up to 100 grants awarded each year
Community Connections Grants [Detroit Good Neighborhood Initiative]
Staff share information from grant projects with other communities through technical assistance, the newsletter, and by showcasing projects at the annual Model Awards meeting and other events.

Information

Newsletter mailed to 15,700 individuals and groups.
Directory of national/state/regional ATOD prevention organizations, updated annually.
Task force and work group reports and other occasional publications
Website available 24 hours, easy access.

Training

Prevention on Purpose training, sponsored with local organizations on the basics of substance abuse prevention, community organizing, and program planning.
Environmental Change training, tailored to local needs and audiences, focused on underage drinking or youth tobacco use
Conference presentations and workshops.
Workshops on obtaining Prevention Network grants.
Special trainings related to parenting, asset development, underage drinking, and other PN programs and focus areas.

Networking

PN connects community groups with each other to share experience and resources.
PN connects community groups with systems and professional resources to help them do their work
PN coordinates statewide steering committees for initiatives such as Parenting Awareness Michigan (PAM), Michigan Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking (MCRUD), Michigan Campus and Community Coalition for Prevention, etc.
PN participates on task forces, work groups, and advisory panels convened by funders and/or policy makers
PN interacts with statewide and national organizations to keep abreast of news, research, trends, policy development, and resources, and to promote Michigan ATOD prevention activities.