The Communities Organizing for Prevention and Empowerment (C.O.P.E.) / Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) - Partnerships for Success (PFS) Initiative - The Communities Organizing for Prevention and Empowerment (C.O.P.E.) / Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) - Partnerships for Success (PFS) Initiative seeks to develop and coordinate comprehensive, data-driven strategies focused on preventing alcohol, tobacco/nicotine (e.g., administered through electronic nicotine delivery systems [ENDS]/vaping devices and hookah+ and cigarillos), and marijuana/cannabinoids (e.g., THC, semi-synthetic cannabinoids [Delta-8, Delta-10, THC-O, HHS]) use among youth (12-17) and young adults (18-24) in the city of Paterson, New Jersey. This initiative intends to serve between 400 and 500 youth and young adults annually, with approximately 2,500 unduplicated program participants served over the five-year project period. The goals of the SPF-PFS grant program will be met by (1) Increase the capacity of the SPF-PFS preventive intervention sites to engage in evidence-based practices that will reduce alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, and marijuana/cannabinoid use among adolescents and young adults; (2) Decrease the incidence of these substances being used among our target population, emphasizing the connection between mental health and substance use; and (3) Expand access to services, including mental health programs, substance use prevention and treatment, and community resources, to improve behavioral health among our target population--and increase service utilization and participation in post-treatment/recovery support services to prevent relapse and enhance health-related outcomes. Measurable objectives to meet the goals mentioned above include: (1) Expand the network of partnering agencies providing substance use screening and prevention interventions that incorporate evidence-based practices (EBPs) by 10% each project year; (2) Implement evidence-based prevention education among adolescents and young adults, reaching 2,500 program participants by the end of the fifth project year (400 to 500 individuals annually); and (3) Provide substance use assessments and mental health screenings, linking participants to appropriate treatment, community, and recovery services, reaching 250 program participants (50 individuals annually). This SPF-PFS project will be rigorously evaluated to assess its impact on reducing alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, and marijuana/cannabinoid use while increasing access to much-needed prevention services among youth and young adults residing in an under-resourced community. Lastly, intensive efforts will be implemented at the project's inception to plan and develop sustainability activities that will contribute to the permanent expansion of comprehensive substance use prevention programs in the Paterson community.
