SAMHSA and Building Blocks: Outreach for Prevention

Background:  Building Blocks for a Healthy Future (Building Blocks) is a primary prevention program for 3- to 6-year-olds developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Based on the Principles for Family and School Programs set forth by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Prevention (NIDA), Building Blocks enables parents, caregivers, and educators to promote a healthful lifestyle. Throughout development and implementation, SAMHSA/CSAP has partnered with the National Head Start Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and other early education organizations.

Program background:  Building Blocks features materials used by parents, educators, and children. Part of an interactive, educational, and constantly updated Web site, these free materials focus on actions to promote emotional health and prevent and reduce mental illness and substance abuse including tobacco. Family Guide: Activities, discussion, and exploration introduce the 6 precepts that NIDA calls essential in enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors.

• Establish and maintain good communication.
• Get involved and stay involved.
• Make clear rules and enforce them with consistency.
• Be a positive role model.
• Teach children to choose friends wisely.
• Monitor children’s activities.

Music CD: Funny lyrics and toe-tapping music put the lessons of the Activity Book into rhymes and rhythms to reinforce healthy behaviors. Activity Book: Activities and games reinforce positive skill-building behaviors. ABC Coloring Book: Letter recognition and alliterative language reinforce pre-reading skills. Character Cards:  Children “bond” with the characters to validate their own feelings and actions. Know Kit Cards: Age-appropriate discussion starters and activities enhance imagination, empathy, and confidence. Easy Readers: Colorful and engaging activities help children see themselves as successful learners. Web site:  Dynamic activities and timely articles connect educators, parents, and children to products and ideas.

Evaluation Methods and Results:  SAMHSA tracks distribution: Over a half million copies of collateral materials have been distributed. SAMHSA ensures inclusiveness: Spanish-language versions of the Family Guide, Activity Book, and Coloring Book are available and the Web site meets the standards for accessibility. SAMHSA tracks usage. Visitors to the Web site increased 370 percent from 2005. Average visit duration increased to over 10 minutes.  SAMHSA provides training to ensure success: Full-day workshops have been implemented in community education facilities in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Building Blocks is featured at each national Head Start conference for educators and parents.

Conclusions:  Because Building Blocks is Web-based the program is dynamic; its outreach continuously grows; its impact can be measured; and, its focus can shift to prevention initiatives recognized as most important, bringing a built-in target audience to current issues. Training promotes the use of the program nationwide and makes local implementation and outreach more effective.

Implications for research and/or practice: 

• Build and enhance partnerships to further program testing and outreach.
• Create online synergies with others dedicated to prevention precepts.
• Use the momentum and trust built to grow the program to reach another underserved population—7- to 9-year-olds.