Who Collects Community-Based Information?

Each prevention effort should collect information regarding various social indicators to determine community risk and protective factors, identify community resources, and determine community readiness for prevention efforts. As will be seen, this information will be in many different forms. In some cases, the information is archival (already existing), and in other cases, it may be necessary to conduct original research, such as surveys, to obtain the information.

Determining the type of information you need, obtaining archival information, conducting original research, and analyzing that information need not be overly complicated, but it can be challenging and require specialized knowledge. For this reason, we recommend that prevention programs use researchers in their prevention efforts to direct evaluation efforts.

The easiest way for practitioners to utilize the specialized skills of researchers is to hire them as consultants. You can identify and contact researchers who specialize in prevention research and prevention science through such associations as the Society of Prevention Research. They maintain an online membership roster. Likewise, the American Evaluation Association includes evaluators with specializations in program evaluation in numerous areas, including substance abuse. Contact Topical Interest Group (TIG) leaders through their Website at the “TIG” section.

Your local university may have a substance abuse-related department or area of specialization, or may have one or more professors who specialize in substance abuse projects. They are often eager to provide research-related consultation. Alternatively, they may be willing to identify graduate students who may be sufficiently qualified to provide basic consultant services or even combine their graduate work with your prevention effort.