Holly Raffle - Exploring Ohio's Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention

Amanda Hampton hosts Holly Raffle from Ohio University's Voinovich School, discussing the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion. They delve into community readiness, prevention strategies, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. Holly highlights initiatives in trauma-informed care, the significance of social determinants of health, and equity in prevention efforts. The conversation also explores youth-led prevention, resources for Ohio's prevention professionals, and upcoming projects, including statewide vaping and alcohol prevention programs. Discover how these initiatives enhance Ohioans' quality of life.

About the Guest:

Holly Raffle Holly Raffle is a distinguished academic and practitioner in the field of public health and prevention with a focus on community-based strategies. Born in Chicago and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Holly holds undergraduate degrees from Ohio University in health education and athletic training. She has extensive experience working in athletic training and high school education, particularly at Logan High School. Currently, she serves as a faculty director at Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Holly directs the Partnership for Community-Based Prevention and is deeply involved with the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion. She balances her professional commitments with her role as a mother and an active community member.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic Prevention Framework: Understanding the steps and significance of the strategic prevention framework in implementing effective community-based prevention strategies.
• Community Readiness and Data: Utilizing data to assess community readiness and tailor prevention efforts accordingly, facilitated by tools like the Ohio Healthy Youth Environment Survey.
• Culturally Relevant Strategies: The necessity for prevention efforts to be culturally relevant and adaptable to community-specific contexts for maximum impact.
• Trauma-Informed Care: Adopting trauma-informed practices in community and school settings to foster environments of safety and support, enhancing overall well-being.
• Role of Educators and Stakeholders: The critical role of educators, coalitions, and community stakeholders in supporting and sustaining prevention initiatives.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Every educator is connected to prevention because education is a social determinant of health."
2. "Prevention is not like a faucet that you turn on and off. You sort of turn it on and let it drip.”
3. “When equity deserving communities succeed, we all succeed.”
4. "People are coming from a place most of the time that's good. People are coming from a place of bringing, you know, sometimes a hundred pounds of baggage in a bag that only holds five pounds."
5. "Everyone has a role to play in prevention. Find what your role is, connect with your local coalitions or your local schools, and see if you can incorporate prevention into your work."

Resources:

• Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion: Website
• Ohio Adult Allies: Website
• Strategic Prevention Framework: SAMHSA Information
• Ohio Healthy Youth Environment Survey (OHYES!): Website
• Prevention Action Alliance