SUD Conference 2014

EVALCORP staff was fortunate to present at the Statewide Substance Use Disorders Conference that was held last week. The theme for the conference was “Integration through Collaboration and Innovation” with workshops focusing on ideas for integrating addiction prevention, treatment and recovery support services with primary care and mental health. EVALCORP staff presented on (1) how Ventura County’s Place of Last Drink (POLD) Survey is used as an effective tool for prevention and (2) ways to collaborate with project staff in evaluating prevention and early intervention (PEI) programs.

In the POLD presentation, we briefly outlined the history of the POLD survey in Ventura County, described the quality assurance measures built in to the data collection and analysis of the POLD surveys collected, shared current selected findings, and illustrated how the data are used to inform and design prevention efforts throughout Ventura County.  This presentation was a collaboration with Dan Hicks, Ventura County Behavioral Health, Alcohol and Drug Programs, Prevention Services Manager who shared extensive knowledge about the ways POLD data have been used in the development of innovative county initiatives to combat impaired driving. 

During the PEI workshop, EVALCORP staff shared their experiences in collaborating with various stakeholders involved in the evaluation of PEI projects. Topics discussed included how to engage service providers in data collection efforts, how to measure existing collaboration efforts and ways to enhance collaboration among partner agencies, and ways in which to overcome challenges associated with diverse programs.

More information about the conference and access to the workshop content can be found here:  http://www.cce.csus.edu/conferences/aod/14/sessions.cfm?pid=936