ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES

  • Intentional Organizing: Develop and broaden the college/community coalition to include all stakeholders, including retailers, restaurateurs, and others with a vested interest in the issue, in order to work toward effective solutions.

  • Social Norming: Dispel myths and promote the real norms among local college students using unique techniques like “Live Responsibly” wristbands, poster campaigns, and eCHUG, a web-based alcohol assessment tool.

  • Alternative Alcohol-free Activities: Provide fun, healthy alternatives to drinking during high-risk times, like late nights and weekends.

DRINKING BEHAVIORS OFTEN BEGIN BEFORE COLLEGE

According to a survey of 6,000 Southwestern Indiana youth by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center, local high school students report rates of binge drinking and underage drinking that are higher than the national averages and in some cases, the state averages. That’s why The Real U will also reach out to college-bound high school students and their parents.

EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES

  • Media Advocacy: Encourage media news coverage, support, and involvement.

  • Social Marketing Campaign: Use marketing expertise, tools, and techniques to create a climate for change on campuses and community-wide.

  • Curriculum-based Substance Abuse Prevention: Include research-based prevention content in the college curriculum.

  • Awareness and Information Training: Offer opportunities to raise awareness and share information about proven prevention strategies.

  • New Student & Parent Mentoring: Connect incoming students and parents with current students and parents to clarify norms verses expectations.

  • Student Leadership Training: Equip students to lead prevention efforts.

  • High School Mentoring: Train college students to take The Real U message to high school students.

ENFORCEMENT

  • Campus Policies: Review and revise policies to help deter high-risk drinking.

  • Consistency: Support the consistent enforcement of local, state and federal laws regarding alcohol.

  • Alcohol-Related Violations: Track the number of college students committing alcohol-related crimes through deferral programs, drug court, arrest records, etc.

EARLY INTERVENTION

  • Counseling: Provide early intervention, including brief motivational interviews and website tools, crisis counseling, and referrals to community services, including treatment.

  • Support Groups: Provide opportunities for support groups like AA and Al-Anon to meet on campus.

EVALUATION OF OUTCOMES

The Real U is committed to measuring outcomes and improving strategies to achieve its goal of reducing high-risk drinking by college students. The primary evaluation tools will be:

• Annual Core Surveys
• Pre/Post Tests for Programs
• Student Focus Groups
• Student Activity Surveys
• Campus & Community Alcohol-related Crime Statistics

 

©2006 Youth First Inc., All Rights Reserved.