Upstream prevention focuses on preventing negative outcomes, such as substance use disorder or mental health challenges, by reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors.
PREVENTION STRATEGY
Key Elements:
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Equitable and Inclusive Access: Strategies must be accessible to all children and youth and provided in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.
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Scalability: Effective upstream prevention strategies can be applied universally, starting in early childhood and continuing throughout life.
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Holistic Approach: These strategies are part of a comprehensive public health approach targeting both risk and protective factors as identified by the CDC.
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Versatility: The methods are versatile, often preventing multiple negative outcomes simultaneously, even when a direct link between the strategy and the outcome isn't apparent.
The most common risk and protective factors include…
Risk Factors:
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Family history of substance use disorder or mental health issues
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Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
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Disruptive life transitions
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Poor parent/caregiver-child relationships
Protective Factors:
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Positive childhood experiences (PCEs)
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Mindfulness
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Developing resilience
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Healthy coping strategies
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Safe, healthy, and connected families and communities
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Social and emotional well-being
Focusing on Children and Youth
Universal Reach: Early implementation of prevention strategies can improve the circumstances that contribute to mental health outcomes, increase protective factors, and foster positive youth development.
Optimal Settings: Schools, including early childhood education (ECE) and out-of-school-time (OOST) programs, and through pediatric primary care are ideal for reaching children and youth universally.
Youth Input: Strategies should facilitate and reflect the input of young people.
Evidence-Based
Upstream prevention strategies for children and youth must be supported by sound research. Evidence-based strategies that show positive outcomes in areas like substance use and suicide prevention may also improve physical and mental health, academic engagement, and school attendance. More research is always needed for proven and emerging strategies.