Communities That Care (CTC) is a scientifically grounded prevention framework designed to equip communities with the necessary tools to proactively address adolescent health and behavioral challenges. At its core, CTC emphasizes a focus on risk and protective factors that have been empirically identified as crucial determinants of youth outcomes. This prevention planning system empowers and trains local coalitions comprised of diverse stakeholders to collaboratively develop and implement evidence-based prevention strategies. CTC’s primary aim is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of preventive interventions within a community, specifically targeting widespread risk factors associated with problem behaviors in adolescents. For instance, gang involvement is recognized as a significant risk factor contributing to juvenile delinquency, among others that CTC seeks to address.
CTC provides a structured approach for coalitions to formulate a strategic community prevention plan. This plan is carefully tailored to address the specific risk and protective factor profile of the community, utilizing programs that have been rigorously tested and proven effective. A key aspect of CTC is its emphasis on fidelity, ensuring that chosen programs are implemented as intended to maximize their impact. Furthermore, CTC guides coalitions in continuous monitoring of program implementation and periodic reassessment of community risk and protection levels, as well as outcomes. This data-driven approach allows for timely adjustments to prevention programming, ensuring that interventions remain relevant and effective over time. The implementation of CTC is systematically organized into five distinct stages, each marked by specific benchmarks and milestones that serve to guide and monitor progress. To facilitate successful adoption, CTC is introduced to communities through a series of six training events, delivered by certified CTC trainers over a period of 6 to 12 months.
The effectiveness of CTC has been rigorously demonstrated in a 24-community study. In this research, communities were randomly assigned to either implement CTC or serve as control groups. The results were compelling: CTC significantly reduced the initiation of alcohol use, cigarette smoking, delinquent behaviors, and violence among youth through the end of high school. Notably, youth who were exposed to CTC from Grades 5 through 9 showed sustained benefits, being significantly more likely to abstain from substance use and delinquency through Grade 12, even with limited exposure to evidence-based prevention programs after Grade 9. Specifically, these young individuals were:
- 32% more likely to have abstained from any drug use
- 31% more likely to never have used gateway drugs (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana)
- 31% more likely to have abstained from alcohol use
- 3% more likely to have abstained from cigarette smoking
- 18% more likely to never have committed a delinquent act
- 14% less likely to ever have committed a violent act
These outcomes underscore the lasting positive impact of the Communities That Care program on adolescent behavior and well-being. By focusing on modifiable risk and protective factors and utilizing a structured, science-based approach, CTC empowers communities to create healthier and safer environments for their youth.
