The new CAPT system will provide training and technical assistanceto SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) grantees --States, Jurisdictions, and Federally-recognized tribal entities --supported under SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment BlockGrant Program and grants included in CSAP's portfolio of Programs ofRegional and National Significance.

Under the contract, EDC's division of Health and Human DevelopmentPrograms (HHD) will work with regional organizations serving theirstates to apply evidence-based prevention policies and strategies.Through CAPT efforts, CSAP will strive to enhance the skills,knowledge, and expertise of the prevention workforce across the countryto support successful implementation of SAMHSA's Strategic PreventionFramework.

Building on the accomplishments of the five existing regional CAPTcenters over the past decade, EDC on behalf of CSAP, will provideleadership and coordination to create this  new integrated CAPT systemwith responsive, tailored, and outcomes-focused technical assistance.The CAPT contract combines centralized core capacity to ensure overallprogram direction, management efficiency, and consistency with adecentralized regional network system - a Regional Expert Team locatedin each of the National Prevention Network regions.

These Regional Expert Teams consist of regionally-based experts whoreflect the diversity of their regions and the ability to serve thevaried demographic, language, and cultural groups.  The CAPT willleverage and coordinate the strengths of work in each region for a morepowerful and unified national approach.

"SAMHSA/CSAP is committed to making the case for prevention," statedFrances M. Harding, SAMHSA/CSAP Director. "We have the research of whatworks to prevent and reduce substance use. We know how to build andwork with community and State prevention systems. The CAPT contract isa critical and important tool to help SAMHSA/CSAP advance the substanceabuse prevention agenda. By strengthening our collective ability toimplement the Strategic Prevention Framework, we can reinforce andsustain sound prevention practice at the local, State, and nationallevels," Harding said.

In addition, CSAP continues its partnership with the United StatesDepartment of Education (ED) to provide additional resources for CAPTassistance to grantees supported under ED's Grants to Reduce AlcoholAbuse (GRAA) Program, which is designed to reduce underage drinking.

"We are thrilled to have this remarkable opportunity to serve thenation and leverage what the regional CAPT system has accomplished forthe past decade," said Cheryl Vince Whitman, EDC Senior Vice Presidentand director of Health and Human Development Programs division, wherethe NECAPT has operated for 10 years. "The new system builds on allthat has been learned and will continue to serve the regions and theirparticular audiences and needs. It unites us all to share and draw oncollective resources to achieve CSAP's mission to prevent and reducethe toll of substance abuse in an increasingly diverse America," shesaid.

EDC and its subcontract partners will serve as a key implementationarm of SAMHSA/CSAP, enabling policy makers and prevention practitionersto apply effective practices and to strengthen collaboration across thecountry. Joining EDC in this new CAPT system are six subcontractpartner organizations:

• CRP, Inc.
• Minnesota Institute for Public Health
• Social Science Research and Evaluation
• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of Oklahoma
• Westat
   

EDC is a global nonprofit organization that develops, delivers, andevaluates innovative programs to address some of the world's mosturgent challenges in education, health, and economic development.Celebrating its 50th year, EDC today manages more than 300 projects in35 countries. Visit www.edc.org. The home of the CAPT at EDC is the division of Health & Human Development Programs at: www.hhd.org