Step 2. Build Capacity

Read more about the SPF... [1]

States and communities must have the capacity—that is, the resources and readiness—to support the prevention programs, policies, and strategies they choose to address identified substance abuse problems. Why? Because programs, policies, and strategies that are well-supported are more likely to succeed. Building capacity means taking a close look at your assessment data, finding the gaps that lie therein, and developing an action plan to address those gaps.

Key components of capacity building include:

• Increasing the availability of fiscal, human, organizational, and other resources [2].
• Raising awareness of substance abuse problems and readiness of stakeholders [3] to address these problems.
• Strengthen existing partnerships and/or identify new opportunities for collaboration.
• Developing and preparing the prevention workforce.

There is tremendous value [4] in these capacity-building activities. Together they will not only improve the effectiveness of prevention activities in the short term, but also help to ensure the sustainability of these activities, over time.

Many grantees have developed materials related to and/or describing their assessment processes. Links to these materials are contained on their respective state, tribe, or jurisdiction pages [5].

Selected SAMHSA's CAPT Services

• Support State Epidemiological Workgroup (SEW) development and meeting planning
• Advise on developing processes for reviewing evidence-based interventions
• Help grantees identify potential TA and evaluation needs at the local level
• Help to develop a process for allocating services to local-level grantees