Review Policies and Procedures

Not all substance abuse prevention programs need to develop a comprehensive set of formal and written policies and procedures. Small programs with limited staff and fairly defined operations can make do with relatively informal policies and procedures. However, all staff should have a common understanding about procedural issues in the following categories. In the absence of written documents, this information can be conveyed through staff trainings.

Human Resources. Ensure that all staff have a basic understanding of the organizational structure (such as who reports to who), required recordkeeping processes, legal requirements for the program and staff, and general expectations, such as hours of operation and human resource requirements.

Financial Procedures. Ensure that all staff have a basic understanding of finance-related procedures. These can include such issues as purchasing supplies, authorization for purchases, authorized vendors, subcontractor work orders and contracts, and purchase requests. Ensure that all staff know who is authorized to sign off on financial and legal documents.

Authorized Communications. By their nature, environmental approaches to substance abuse prevention involves contact with numerous figures in the community. Ensure that all staff understand who are the primary points of contact with individuals outside of the program. Ensure that all staff know who is authorized to speak on behalf of program.