Creating Strengths-Based Approaches to Reduce Public Health Problems

Historically, most prevention efforts have focused too much on admonishment and knowledge transfer, despite years of evidence that such programs are ineffective. Effective prevention must be grounded in a broad understanding of what works, what does not, and how different forms of risky behavior share common elements. In this webinar we introduce a new model, the prevention portfolio model. This incorporates strategies from across many disciplines including behavioral economics and public health to create strengths-based frameworks for addressing violence, substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, and related problems. The webinar will help participants re-imagine prevention with protective factors at the center.

• Describe at least two ways that specific strengths-based prevention can improve upon current limitations in prevention effectiveness.
• Apply at least one aspect of the Prevention Portfolio Model to the teaching, research, or practice.

Victoria Banyard, PhD, and Sherry Hamby, PhD