Guidance

TASK 3: Assess readiness and resources

Once you have determined what intervening variables to address, your next step is to determine which strategies may be most feasible to implement. To do this, you must assess your community’s readiness to address the opioid misuse problem and the existing resources that may be dedicated to this purpose.

A community readiness assessment will help you determine how willing and prepared your community is to support a substance abuse prevention initiative.

Note: Be sure that your readiness assessment reflects principles of cultural competence by involving representatives from across sectors in planning and data collection and by collecting information in ways that are appropriate and respectful.

A community resource assessment will help you identify potential resource gaps, build support for prevention activities, and ensure a realistic match between identified needs and available resources.

When people hear the word resources, they might think of staff, financial support, and a sound organizational structure. However, substance abuse prevention resources may also include the following:

  • Community efforts to address substance abuse
  • Community awareness of those efforts
  • Specialized knowledge of prevention research, theory, and practice
  • Practical experience working with particular populations
  • Knowledge of the ways that local politics and policies help or hinder prevention efforts

It is important to focus your assessment on relevant resources (i.e., resources related to your priority problem). A well-planned and focused assessment will produce far more valuable information than one that casts too wide a net. At the same time, keep in mind that useful and accessible resources may also be found outside the substance abuse prevention system, among the many organizations in your community that promote public health.

Tool
MOAPC Planning Tool