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EPISCenter Evidence-based Prevention and Implementation Support

Mission: EPIS is a university-based intermediary organization connecting research, policy and real-world practice to improve outcomes for children and families across Pennsylvania.

Vision: A world leader in translating prevention science to practice.

  • Directs outreach and advocacy efforts to foster recognition, at federal, state, and community levels, of the value and impact of proven prevention and intervention programs

  • Provides technical assistance to communities to improve implementation quality, promote the collection and use of program impact data, and foster proactive planning for long-term program sustainability

  • Develops and provides educational opportunities and resources to disseminate current prevention science research and facilitate peer networking

  • Conducts original evaluations to inform more effective prevention practice and the successful dissemination of evidence-based programs.

Pennsylvania Youth Survey

Since 1989, the Commonwealth has conducted a survey of school students in the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades to learn about their behavior, attitudes and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence. The ‘Pennsylvania Youth Survey,’ or PAYS, is sponsored and conducted every two years by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. As of 2013 PAYS is offered at no cost to all public, private, and charter schools throughout the Commonwealth.

Communities That Care (CTC) is an "operating system" that takes communities through a well-defined and structured process to prevent adolescent problem behaviors and promote positive youth development. CTC communities form a broad-based coalition and then collect local data on risk and protective factors shown by research to be associated with delinquency, violence, substance use, and school failure and dropout. After collecting this data the communities identifies 3-5 specific risk and protective factors to focus on, and then seeks evidence-based programs and strategies to address those priorities. After 2-3 years of implementing these strategies, the community re-assesses their risk and protective factors to measure impact and identify new emerging priorities.

and more!

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