Community Awareness Resource Entity of Arizona (CAREaz) will implement the Sanders Strategic Prevention Framework Program to the Navajo youth and adult residents of the Sanders Unified School District catchment area on the Navajo Nation in Apache County, Arizona. CAREaz will apply the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and the Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA) to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of prevention practices and programs to build a sound infrastructure that will foster prevention of alcohol and opioids. The goals of the project are: 1) Prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse and its related problems among Navajo people aged 9-20 in the target catchment area; 2) Increase the capacity and infrastructure of the target catchment area to develop and deliver culturally competent alcohol and opioid abuse prevention strategies; and 3) Strengthen Navajo families in the catchment area as integral mechanisms to prevent onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse and its related problems. Measurable objectives include a) By September 29, 2021, 75% of physicians in the target catchment area will have attended training for prevention and awareness measures; b) By September 20, 2024, 75% of students who participate in an evidence-based prevention program will have a 50% increase in perception of risk of opioid and alcohol abuse; c) By September 29, 2024, there will be a 10% reduction in the number of students reporting past 30-day use of alcohol; d) By September 29, 2024, there will be a 10% reduction in the number of students reporting using opioid drugs to get high; e) By September 29, 2023, 6,000 adults and 2,000 youth in the target catchment area will receive a combination of culturally competent alcohol and opioid abuse prevention messaging and evidence-based education; f) By September 29, 2023, at least 400 parents will have participated in a culturally adapted evidence-based parenting program; and g) By September 29, 2024, 75% of parents who participate in a culturally adapted evidence-based parenting program will show a 50% increase in perception of harm of opioid and alcohol abuse. The project will serve 1,600 individuals annually and 8,000 individuals throughout the life of the project.
