SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION, continued

• Get the Message out. Throughout the process, it is important to engage the community at every level. Educating the community and gaining community support can occur through a variety of methods, but media advocacy can be a particularly effective (and inexpensive) way of getting news of prevention efforts and prevention successes across to many members of the community.
  
  
• Celebrate Successes Along the Way. Often, when environmental prevention efforts are successful, few recognize the significance of this accomplishment. Only when problems exist do people tend to recognize the need and importance of prevention. Although coalitions may experience little public recognition for their success, it is important to remember that making the quality of life better for communities, and for youth in particular, will result in lasting changes that affect not only the present, but the future as well. Remember to celebrate successes along the way and remind those engaged in prevention efforts of the lasting impact of their work.