title: Evaluating Community Readiness to Implement Environmental and Policy-Based Alcohol Abuse Prevention Strategies in Wisconsin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matching evidence-based alcohol prevention strategies with a community's readiness to support those strategies is the basis for the Tri-Ethnic Community Readiness Model (CRM). The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the association of a community's readiness to address alcohol abuse in their community with the implementation of environmental and policy-based strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one substance abuse prevention coalitions in Wisconsin participated in a pre-post intervention group-only evaluation using the CRM. As part of aSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA) grant, all grantees were obligated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to implement environmental and policy-based strategies focused on one of three priority areas: young adult binge drinking, underage drinking, and alcohol-related motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, all communities (n=21) scored at or below a Stage 4 (on a scale of 1-9) readiness level ("preparedness"). The mean change in community readiness over the three-year period (2009-2011) was significant, but was less than one complete CRM stage (0.77, p=<0.001; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that implementation of environmental and policy-based strategies may improve a community's progression in perceived readiness to address alcohol abuse regardless of the community's baseline level of readiness to address alcohol abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An assessment specific for measuring community readiness for policy-related strategies should be developed. The assessment would include community-level factors (e.g. community climate) for implementing policy-related prevention strategies, and not assume a linear readiness model.
authors.affiliation: Population Health Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5901 Research Park Blvd. Madison, WI 53719-1244.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paltzer
authors.affiliation: Population Health Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5901 Research Park Blvd. Madison, WI 53719-1244.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Population Health Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5901 Research Park Blvd. Madison, WI 53719-1244.
authors.forename: D Paul
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Moberg
keywords: Alcohol abuse; Alcohol policy; Community readiness; Prevention