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History of the California Prevention Collaborative

In 1998, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs sponsored a survey of the California prevention field. The 600 respondents expressed a clear desire to have and use effective alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) prevention programs. The survey acted as a catalyst to establish the common ground from which effective, unified prevention actions could take place.

Later that year, 300 individuals met at a Prevention Summit in Los Angeles to discuss the survey results and develop elements for a prevention platform. They also established a California Prevention Collaborative (CPC) Steering Committee, who was charged to move the platform concepts toward meaningful action. To that end, the CPC Steering Committee established the organization’s core philosophy entitled, The California Prevention Platform – a Framework for the Future, and contained eight “planks” describing the CPC’s specific objectives. Over 200 organizations throughout California have endorsed the Platform.

When the Prevention Platform was developed, the key principles that guided the work of the CPC were to:

• Create a representative statewide prevention collaborative to stimulate participation across systems to engage the field in the promotion and professionalism as a vocal and active voice for Prevention.
• Champion and advocate for the sustainability of visible, strong and focused efforts for preventing alcohol and other drug problems at the State level and in all local communities.
• Champion and advocate for young people to be problem free, fully prepared and fully engaged. Provide all necessary supports to assure that all California children and youth have access to programs that contribute to their positive and healthy development and that programs in communities engage young people as resources.
• Work for the grounding of California’s alcohol and other drug policies, practices and programs in research-based strategies and programs within a results-based system. Work to promote the accomplishment of this objective through education, research and advocacy.
• Move toward professional standards and provide support for prevention practitioners in the field by developing core curricula and training programs.
• Convene members of California’s prevention field for an Annual Prevention Summit and training conference.

In 2004, the CPC began the transition from a Steering Committee model into a newly formed 501c3, with a Board of Directors who are charged with increasing the advocacy and promotion of prevention in California. The founding leaders and past Chair’s of the CPC include Joe Pendry, Joan Kiley, Eduardo Hernandez, Maureen Sedonaen and Daniel Torres. In 2005, the Board of Directors elected Sharon O’Hara to serve as the CPC President.

To join the CPC in advocating keeping prevention strong in California, you can become an individual or organizational member of the California Prevention Collaborative.