3.5.3   Facilitate Developing the Team’s Base of Knowledge

All volunteers on strategic planning teams should be knowledgeable and talented. But they may be specialists in their areas (such as fund raising or advertising) and want to improve the community, but not know much about substance abuse or prevention. Not understanding substance-related problems, theories, approaches, and lingo can slow down strategic planning team meetings. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

First, organize an effort for strategic planning members in the planning process, that is, in how to conduct planning. This includes what kind of planning process will be used and what the final product or plan will look like. In relation to substance abuse, educate the planning team regarding the most pressing substance use problems in the community, the goals and objectives of the prevention effort, and which prevention approaches are most likely to succeed and implement given the target group, problem, and resources.

Provide planners with information about prevention approaches with demonstrated effectiveness and that range from effective to promising approaches. Describe examples of the different types of prevention approaches. Provide a basic training course on prevention. Provide literature designed for nonspecialists about the basics of prevention, risk and protective factors, and prevention approaches. Lead a tour of planners to other programs to observe their operations and interview their staff.