Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Program - Arrowleaf, a nonprofit organization based in Illinois, will implement the Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Program to address substance use disparities and strengthen prevention efforts in Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, and Union counties—a rural region with some of the poorest health outcomes in the state. With persistent poverty, limited healthcare access, and high rates of substance use, this initiative will expand evidence-based prevention, early screening, and referral pathways for transition-age youth (18-25), pregnant women, and families involved in child welfare—populations facing heightened risk factors and barriers to care. Preliminary data indicates that methamphetamine and fentanyl use are among the most pressing substance use concerns in the region—as such, these two substance priority areas have been identified as the focus of prevention activities. Using SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) universal, selective, and indicated prevention strategies, Arrowleaf will expand early screening, enhance referral pathways, and increase community-based prevention initiatives. The program will integrate Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and other validated assessment tools to improve early identification of substance use risk and ensure access to timely interventions. The Southern Illinois Communities for Substance Use Prevention (SI-CSUP) Advisory Council will be established to strengthen cross-sector collaboration between child welfare, healthcare, education, and community organizations, ensuring sustainability. Through stigma-reduction efforts, harm-reduction education, and family-centered interventions, Arrowleaf will create pathways for prevention and early identification. Key activities will include training behavioral health providers and community partners in SBIRT, integrating the Nurturing Parenting for Substance Use Disorders curriculum, and hiring a Peer Liaison to support families navigating substance use challenges. Harm-reduction education and overdose-prevention strategies will also be incorporated within the project to mitigate the rising risks associated with fentanyl contamination and polysubstance use. Over five years, Arrowleaf anticipates serving 1,125 individuals, including 125 in Year 1 (prorated for a half-year) and 250 annually in Years 2-5. Measurable objectives include a 12% increase in targeted referrals, increased provider and community engagement in stigma- reduction efforts, and expanded harm-reduction services to at least 50 individuals annually. Program evaluation, supported by consultant REA Analytics, will ensure data-driven implementation and continuous quality improvement. By strengthening local prevention capacity, increasing community readiness, and reducing barriers to care, Arrowleaf’s SPF-PFS initiative will improve substance use prevention outcomes and promote long-term behavioral health resilience in rural Southern Illinois.
