Well written. I have always been told though, if you come with a problem, you had better also come with 2 possible solutions. So i challenge you, what are your solutions to this issue?

After checking the NREPP database, I found 29 interventions specifically for african americans. Granted, when you start talking specific age groups and types (substance abuse, violence, etc), it starts to narrow. The point is, that there are interventions out there (evidence based and on the NREPP list), that can be effective in the African-American Community. Not every grant or money source requires you to have your intervention straight off of the NREPP list.

You made the statement: "While CSAP will acknowledge the limited relevancy of many of the "evidence-based models" to the inner city black community, this caveat has been ignored by many others in authority inour local and state goverment who insist that "all kids are kids", "all kids use drugs for the same basis reasons", "race (or culture) has nothing to do with substance abuse and has little to do with preventing it". ----- I have not found he same issue in my state (Iowa), and that most prevention agencies take care to be very culturally competent. I am curious as to what state you are from.

Also, you have pointed to the fact that you or those you know have shown effective results in your communities with programs not on the list. Would you mind sharing these, the results, and how you came about these results?

I know it probably sounds like i am arguing with your statement, which i am not. I also do not necessarily agree with a "one size fits all" notion. I just don't know if i feel this "inner circle" exists, or if there is a "kids are kids" attitude in the prevention world.

Thanks for the feedback. I am in the state of California, more specifically in Los Angeles County. I deeply believe that our new leadership in substance abuse prevention in the county acknowledges that "one size does not fit all" and is willing to entertain models and interventions that have "real data" to support their effectiveness. However, those in higher authority in our county government, though experts in their own areas of expertise, are not as open-minded and do not share this same understanding. While they have a good understanding of youth and adolescent substance use/abuse, from a culturally narrow or singular perspective, they don't appear to acknowledge the nuances of youth substance abuse across the county's many diverse communities; nuances that can't be ignored in the development of appropriate prevention interventions/models.

Much of the research done by organizations like the Association of Black Psychologist and the research of its Latino counterpart, demonstrate the importance of culture, a "shared worldview", and the need for models and interventions that "spring (are developed) from our unique experiences. Unfortunately, others (though well intentioned) are developing programs/interventions for our community that are not base on our "shared experiences and worldview"...our understanding of the world around us and how it interacts with us.

The various list of programs on the NREPP, Department of Education, Department of Juvenile Justice, etc., are convenient. They are interventions that have been researched, tested and work in the communities where they have been developed and implemented. Of course, I don't doubt the overall effectiveness of the interventions, even in communities of color. But, like my grandmother always told me, "to a barefoot person, rubber shoes feel good!"

Having been in this field for almost 40 years, I am tired of "rubber shoes". Its time to "step up to leather!" I am one of several providers who has a long-standing program with "real data" showing its impact on African American youth. My intervention/program has been on the same elementary school campus for 25 years, uses a culturally specific curriculum, employs a control group, and uses t-tests, f-tests, ANOVA, etc. to analyze our results. Unfortunately, we don't have the budget or university connections to "get our information out there".

Yes, like you, I've reviewed the listing to see if the interventions COULD address the needs of black youth, and yes, many of them have shown, like "rubber shoes" that they CAN BE effective. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they are not grounded in our experiences and do not reflect our perspective of the substance abuse problem, its root issues and remedies. Until we get interventions/models that have the "feel and comfort" of homemade leather shoes, their effectiveness will be short-term in the black community.

I really hope that I haven't rambled on too long and that I haven't appeared to be argumentative. I would be happy to share information with you about my intervention and my outcomes. Should I post them under "Discussion", send it to your email address or post the information someplace else on this site? Let me know and thanks for the feedback and input.