The ASAP Center was formed by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati in 2000. Its work is focused on youth, youth group leaders, educators, clergy, volunteers, and others who recognize the role they play in substance abuse prevention in their communities. These are the groups who have the potential to change society’s beliefs and actions toward alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. They are usually not formally trained in prevention activities, and they also are not usually paid for this work. However, they have seen the needs for prevention in their communities and are working to address them. We call these groups our Partners.

The ASAP Center supports our Partners’ community-based activities, helping them tap into resources – including evidence-based practices – to be more effective. We offer workshops, a resource library, and one-on-one consultations to community groups. Through these and other activities, we teach and connect people to substance abuse prevention resources.

The Health Foundation originally considered the ASAP Center a short-term project that would last about six years, and that it would culminate in our Partners’ development of self-sustaining prevention activities. At the six-year mark, the Health Foundation evaluated the ASAP Center’s work and realized that it needed to continue. Together, the ASAP Center and the Health Foundation have come to understand that effective prevention support is not a short-term project or program that can be completed, but an ongoing role in the community.

We work in an area surrounding Cincinnati, Ohio, that covers 20 counties in 3 states:

Guiding Principles of the ASAP Center

• Everyone has a role to play in preventing problems relating to alcohol and other drug use.
• Many more people would be involved if they knew how to do it effectively.
• There are evidence-based prevention best practices that can be incorporated into the activities of community organizations and individuals.
• Communities need prevention approaches that are sensitive to their needs, history, beliefs, and culture.
• Community members must be at the forefront of in planning and implementing prevention efforts for their community.
• Connecting community members with existing prevention resources is important for community efforts to be effective and continue over time.
• Collaborations including service providers and community organizations are essential to effective community-based prevention.
• The role of families and parents must be respected, appreciated, and encouraged.
• Prevention activities will evolve as a result of experience and emerging best practices.
• Prevention messages need to be simple, consistent, and research-based.
• Measuring progress is necessary to ensure the work continues to reflect these principles.