Strategy Matters

Having a strategic plan in place to guide your efforts can significantly improve your chances for success. Join Together has surveyed thousands of groups around the nation and found that those with written strategies are more effective in reaching their goals.

When it comes to developing a strategy, what works? Successful communities involve a wide range of individuals and groups in their plans. Strategies that work best are comprehensive, and they address issues such as prevention, treatment, law enforcement, and economic development. Here are some things to consider as you form a strategy for your community.

Every community is unique

Each community should thoroughly assess its own particular needs and identify action steps, policies, and strategies that will meet those needs. As you develop your plan of action for reducing and preventing alcohol and drug problems, asking the right questions can help you clarify your community's needs and decide where to focus your efforts.

Use these questions as a starting point for your discussions.

What harms from substance abuse are you trying to reduce in your community?
How will you accomplish this?
Who else in your community is already involved? What other groups could get involved?
How can you work collaboratively with others?
How will you know you are making a difference? Resources such as How Do We Know We Are Making A Difference? A Community Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Indicators Handbook and its companion website, www.indicatorshandbook.org, can help.

What is a Strategy Anyway?

Communities planning to draft a strategy should ask themselves what key components will make up their plan. From our national surveys, we have observed that a strategic plan usually includes:

Specific goals. For example: The percentage of ninth graders who drink alcohol should go down every year.
Programs that are related to achieving established goals. For example: Student and parent alcohol education, underage drinking media campaigns, youth-run activities, targeted action against retailers who provide alcohol to underage youth, etc.
Ways to monitor progress toward goals. For example: Regular school surveys that measure alcohol use and availability.
A process for reviewing current goals and programs, and for adjusting them to changing circumstances. For example: An annual public hearing by the city council to review the community strategy and discuss the progress report.
A regular community report. For example: An annual update on the progress toward community goals.