SPF26 project - strategic prevention framework 2026 (SPF26) project the proposed SPF26 project will strengthen prevention capacity to prevent onset and reduce progression of substance abuse and…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded Kent State University $600,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.492) to strengthen prevention capacity and reduce substance abuse onset and progression among youth and adults in Eastern Ohio.

The Strategic Prevention Framework 2026 (SPF26) project will develop sustainable public health infrastructure across two regions: a ten-county Northeast region (Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Geauga, Lake, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas Counties) and a ten-county Southeast region (Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Washington Counties). These regions are 55 percent rural, 25 percent partially rural, and 20 percent urban, with 80 percent Appalachian designation, serving historically underserved priority populations.

The project encompasses three key elements. First, Kent State will leverage a collaborative partnership with Prevention Action Alliance to expand substance misuse prevention programming and mental health promotion across the catchment area. Second, the project will develop and expand Insight, a comprehensive, near real-time data portal and online dashboard to improve substance use and abuse data reporting and guide prevention agencies and professionals. Third, additional infrastructure and intervention elements support the two-region network's prevention and mental health efforts. Work is performed in Kent, Ohio, with performance running through September 29, 2031.

SPF26 project - strategic prevention framework 2026 (SPF26) project the proposed SPF26 project will strengthen prevention capacity to prevent onset and reduce progression of substance abuse and related problems among youth and adults by developing sustainable public health infrastructure in two eastern ohio regions. The 10-county northeast (NE) region consists of ashtabula, carroll, columbiana, geauga, lake, mahoning, portage, stark, trumbull, and tuscarawas counties. The 10-county southeast (SE) region consists of belmont, coshocton, guernsey, harrison, jefferson, monroe, morgan, muskingum, noble, and washington counties. According to the ohio state office of rural health, these regions' counties are 55% rural designation, 25% partially rural, and only 20% urban; they are also 80% appalachian. This means we are primarily addressing historically underserved priority populations disproportionately impacted by substance misuse. The population in the catchment area is predominantly white (89.5% for the NE and 93.7% for the SE) and non-hispanic (only 3.0% hispanic in the NE and 1.1% in the SE). Both regions are approximately 50% biologically female per the 2023 census. There are three key elements of the SPF26 project's sustainable infrastructure development and expansion. One, we will leverage our collaborative partnership with prevention action alliance (PAA) to utilize organizational and professional expertise and existing networks to expand substance misuse prevention programming/initiatives and promote mental health in our catchment area. Two, we will develop and further expand insight, a sustainable, comprehensive, near real-time, and adaptable substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion data portal (e.g., online dashboard). This will improve upon traditional sources of substance use/abuse data reporting, as well as guide and support the network of prevention agencies/professionals and their substance abuse prevention and mental health support efforts in each region. Three, we will develop and implement a data informed "prevention network" coordinated and supported by PAA and trained regional field manager and coordinator (RFM/RFC) to bridge existing agencies, coalitions, and resources, and coordinate and support communities in planning, implementing, evaluating and sustaining data-driven and evidence-based substance abuse prevention activities and initiatives. The NE region includes 105 school districts, and the SE region includes 36 school districts. The SPF26 project plans to target at least 100 - 200 individuals in the general population with prevention and outreach activities annually in each region. This will be accomplished through partnerships with health departments, libraries, healthcare offices and other community agencies. SPF26 will also provide prevention and outreach activities to school age children through partnerships with school districts in each region. This will include engaging with and providing prevention through at least 5 school districts annually (5 new districts annually). We anticipate that planned individual and small group prevention services provided through partner schools throughout the 2-region area will reach at least 200 students annually starting in year 1. Messaging and outreach will also occur through regular (monthly) posts on various social media platforms. This approach is estimated to reach at least 160,000 in year 1 and is expected to increase significantly over time. The proposed project will work to reduce substance use related risks, behaviors and consequences, and increase protective factors by at least 2% annually.