The County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Prevention Services. Alcohol and other drug use continues to be a significant problem in Orange County, especially amongst youth who are at high risk for substance abuse. According to the 2013-14 California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS)1, nearly one (1) out of six (15%) Orange County 9th graders and approximately one (1) out of four (4) (26%) 11th grade students reported having used alcohol in the past 30 days; among these current users, more than half reported at least one (1) episode of heavy or binge drinking (five (5) or more drinks within a period of two (2) hours). Additionally, 16% of 11th graders were marijuana users, reporting use within the past 30 days. Although, this data shows a slight reduction from prior year’s CHKS data indicating that prevention programing is helpful for our communities, the data continues to indicate that AOD use persists. For instance, 2012-13 data shows that 19% of 9th graders and 31% of 11th graders indicate having used alcohol and/or other drugs, within the past 30 days, demonstrating a continued need for prevention services to further educate and inform the youth on healthy behaviors.
The County’s AOD Prevention Services Strategic Plan utilizes a comprehensive public health perspective and a systems approach to AOD problems. The Strategic Plan adopts the Institute of Medicine’s model that classifies prevention services into three (3) categories: universal, selective and indicated prevention interventions, and organizes prevention programs along a targeted audience continuum as described by the Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention (CSAP). The level or degree of prevention intervention is based on a combination of risk and protective factors that may impact mental health or substance use disorder. HCA’s Behavioral Health provides alcohol and other drug prevention services to all three (3) Institute of Medicine classifications targeting youth to address risk and protective factors to reduce AOD use.
The primary goal of the AOD prevention services will be to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug use among youth. The services will include education to school age students, school staff and to families about the high-risk factors which can lead youth to use alcohol and other drugs as well as its impact on the developing brain and mental health. Services will focus on the identifying of high-risk behaviors, strengthening protective factors, and improving the connection of youth to their families, schools and community.
Successful bidder must be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and experience to achieve the primary goal of services.