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1998 SESSION

986032700
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 157
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules
on February 10, 1998)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Martin)
Expressing the sense of the General Assembly on substance abuse prevention and the appropriate strategies for State agencies that have responsibility for prevention services in each locality in the Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, many of Virginia's youths are at substantial risk of becoming involved in substance abuse and the related problem behaviors of teen pregnancy, crime, delinquency, violence, and school failure; and

WHEREAS, research demonstrates that youth problem behaviors are linked to specific, identifiable risk factors and can be prevented; and

WHEREAS, research also indicates that the most effective prevention strategies are those which are planned and developed through local collaborative efforts and are linked to measurable community risk factors; and

WHEREAS, many Virginia localities lack a coordinated plan for implementing and evaluating prevention programs, which often results in services that are fragmented and less cost-effective; and

WHEREAS, prevention often commands a low priority as increasing demands for treatment require increasing levels of funding; and

WHEREAS, local governments lack an advisory group that can advise on the positive impact of prevention services; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That it is the sense of the General Assembly that (i) each locality in the Commonwealth should designate a local Prevention Advisory and Planning Group inclusive of all agencies receiving prevention funding, as well as civic and social groups, local businesses, the faith community, private human service agencies, parents, and youths; (ii) each local Prevention Advisory and Planning Group should develop, implement, and monitor a Comprehensive Community Prevention Plan, based on measurable community risk factors and designed to provide a continuum of prevention services for youths and families across agencies and community groups; and (iii) the use of state agency prevention funds in localities should be guided by, and actively support, the goals and objectives outlined in the Comprehensive Community Prevention Plan; and be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly request state agencies that administer or allocate prevention funds encourage their local counterparts that receive prevention funding to: (i) participate on their local Prevention Advisory and Planning Group to ensure a comprehensive and collaborative approach to prevention programming, use of local prevention resources, and development of an evaluation protocol based on measurable community risk factors; and (ii) develop prevention plans that are consistent with, and a part of, the Comprehensive Community Prevention Plan, which provides a continuum of prevention services for youths and families across agencies and community groups; and be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, the Commissioner of Health, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Directors of the Departments of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Social Services, and Motor Vehicles in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly in this matter.