Sustaining adoption of science-based prevention through communities that care

Abstract

Communities That Care (CTC) has been shown to increase the use of science-based prevention, resulting in community-wide improvements in youth development. Using data from a community-randomized trial of CTC in 24 communities, this study examined the extent to which community leaders endorsed the use of science-based prevention in CTC communities compared to control communities 3 years after study support for implementation ended, and whether participation in CTC training affected leader endorsement of science-based prevention. This study found that CTC community leaders reported significantly higher stages of adoption of science-based prevention than did leaders in control communities 3 years after study funding ended. However, use of science-based prevention in CTC communities declined. At follow-up, leaders who participated in CTC training reported significantly higher use of science-based prevention than did leaders in CTC communities who did not receive training. Providing continued CTC training could support sustained community adoption of science-based prevention.