FAQs -

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Prevention Network?
Prevention Network is a non profit agency operating in Michigan with the mission to help Michigan communities prevent underage drinking, youthful tobacco use and other substance abuse. We are located in Lansing, but travel extensively throughout Michigan to assist community groups where they are.

What does Prevention Network do?
Our staff have become experts at helping community groups "where they are at'" both physically and programmatically. Some groups have been at this for years and need technical assistance and access to resources at the professional level. Other groups are just getting started and need help with basic steps like assessing their community needs and identifying specific issues to be resolved. One of our jobs is to help a group figure out what they might need, then provide it or help them find it.

In addition to helping Michigan's neighborhood groups and community coalitions, we assist several state-wide agencies, organizations, and efforts. Current examples include the Bureau of Substance Abuse and Addiction Services, Office of Highway Safety Planning, Tobacco Free Michigan, and the Michigan Prevention Association. We have also convened state wide groups of like-minded people such as the Michigan Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, Parenting Awareness Michigan, and the Michigan Campus and Community Coalition for Prevention.

How can Prevention Network help my community?
We have always believed that the most effective, meaningful prevention takes place at the local level; done by local people, making local decisions, and addressing local needs. Our primary goal is to help out at the local level. We believe it is important to get the needed expertise and resources to you so you can take action where you live. We have also found that there are some issues that can be addressed at the state and national level that will help with your local efforts. So we focus on you by helping in your neighborhood, here in Lansing, and at the national level.

Are you the people who do the Network News newsletter?
As our staff travel the state, they are often recognized by one of our two flagship services, our grant program and our newsletter, Network News. For over 20 years, the Network News has brought information from the national, state, and local level to your fingertips. As the world goes digital, we are proud to continue to print our newsletter to better meet your needs. In surveys, readers of the Network News pass their copy on to an average of six other people. In response to your input, we are working with experts in the printing and web design fields to expand our newsletter to a digital version that you can enjoy via e-mail or online. If you enjoy your printed copy, rest assured that we will make every effort to provide it to you in this format. If you would rather receive it electronically, stay tuned...

Are you the agency that gives grants to volunteer groups?
As our staff travel the state, they are often recognized by one of our two flagship services, our newsletter, Network News, or our grant program. We have been providing small grants to volunteer grassroots organizations for primary substance abuse prevention initiatives as long as there has been a Prevention Network. Although there have been many changes in the details, our focus has always been to get much-needed resources to local community groups to address local issues.

Why does Prevention Network need my help now?
Prevention Network has existed for nearly 25 years with moral, programmatic, and financial support from several departments, offices, and divisions of the State of Michigan. And we anticipate that this will continue well into the future. However, the financial funding available has consistently been reduced for several years. In addition, we have identified needs that it would not be appropriate to use state funds to address. This includes lobbying policy makers at the national, state, and local level for common-sense laws and policies that protect the public from underage drinking, youthful tobacco use, and other substance abuse.

Is Prevention Network losing its funding from the state of Michigan?
We do not anticipate losing our funding from any of our current funding partners, including the state of Michigan. We just need to be able to address some identified needs that state funding would not be appropriate for.

What do you mean Prevention Network can do better?
For almost 25 years, we have been tireless in our efforts to be the best we could be for you. We believe that you deserve the best training, access to the most current information and research, and a fighting chance to do your best at the local level. At Prevention Network, it really is all about you.

And we believe that you deserve the very best. As we learn more and the prevention field matures and grows, it is our goal to stay at the cutting edge, sometimes pushing this edge further along, so that you can be kept up to date on the best research, the latest information, and the most effective initiatives to prevent underage drinking, youthful tobacco use, and other substance abuse.

What do you mean Prevention Network can do more?
Although our focus is on your identified issues at your local level, we also recognize the need for state-level activity on issues like smoke free workplaces, increasing the beer tax, assuring that alcohol servers are adequately trained, professional prevention agencies are adequately funded, and giving community groups and law enforcement agencies the best chances they can have to foster and enforce laws, ordinances, and community norms. Much of this work requires us to lobby on your behalf. Which means we need the resources (read: money) outside of and in addition to our state and foundation funds to be able to do that. We know there is so much to be done, and we know that our state and foundation dollars we currently receive would not be appropriate to use for many of these activities.

Opportunities to Partner with Prevention Network will be coming soon.