Common Ground is a five year NIAAA funded community-based preventive intervention. This “U01” grant is designed to examine the feasibility of coalition-delivered environmental management approaches for reducing alcohol-related negative consequences. Along with URI’s Department of Student Life, a recipient of an NIAAA “U18” grant, we are working with the Narragansett-URI Coalition and URI’s Greek Advisory Council to build coalition capacity and implement environmental interventions designed to decrease underage access to alcohol and drinking and driving, and increase health protective behaviors. As part of this project, we are also providing technical assistance to the University of Virginia and the University of San Diego with their recently funded “U18” grants. This project is currently in Year 2.
Abstract: Common Ground U01 Abstract---Download here.
Presentations: "Common Ground Overview and Update"---Download here.
Common Measures: Posted surveys and interviews---Common Measures Webpage
Follow this link to the Narragansett-URI Coalition Web Page: Coalition Web Page
Thanks to the following students and staff who have worked on this project:
Click on Thumbnails to see the Common Ground Teams
Specific Aim 1a. To demonstrate the feasibility of a coalition driven multi-stage environmental change process for addressing college student drinking in communities surrounding two universities.
Hypotheses: A collaborative community-based approach will result in: (1a.1) increased awareness of the coalitions’ existence and support for the organization; (1a.2) demonstrable ability to involve key campus and community stakeholders (students, police, city officials, realtors, neighborhood associations, hospitality industry) in a viable coalition; (1a.3) demonstrable collaborative development and implementation of specific, environmental management-based strategies to reduce alcohol use and related negative consequences.
Specific Aim 1b. To work with the coalitions to implement and evaluate the efficacy of selected environmental management (EM) strategies aimed at reducing collegiate alcohol abuse and problems on campuses and in the local communities.
Hypotheses: The successful implementation of specific EM strategies can be demonstrated through analyses of an array of process and outcome measures related to: (1b.1) increased student awareness, support, and experience with selected EM strategies; (1b.2) implementation of selected EM strategies; (1b.3) short-term outcomes for implemented EM strategies; and (1b.4) pre-post comparisons of more distal outcome indicators (police call records, hotline call records, arrests for public intoxication, DWI stops/arrests, traffic crashes/fatalities).
Specific Aim 2a. To demonstrate the feasibility of a coalition driven multi-stage environmental change process with fraternities and sororities.
Hypotheses: A collaborative environmental management approach with Greek organizations will result in: (2a.1) increased awareness of Greek coalitions existence and support for the organization; (2a.2) demonstrable ability to recruit and involve key campus stakeholders into Greek coalitions including representatives from: each house, PanHellenic and Interfraternity Councils (IFC), leaders from influential student organizations (e.g., Student Senate), residence hall residents, and additional affiliated and “independent” students; (2a.3) demonstrable collaborative development of specific environmental management strategies within Greek houses and at Greek events; (2a.4) quantifiable involvement of Greek members and leadership in ongoing community coalition efforts.
Specific Aim 2b. To work with “Greek” coalitions to implement and evaluate the efficacy of selected environmental management (EM) strategies aimed at reducing alcohol abuse and problems in the Greek community.
Hypotheses: The successful implementation of specific EM strategies can be demonstrated through analyses of an array of process and outcome measures related to: (2b.1) increased student awareness, support, and experience with selected EM strategies implemented by the Greek coalitions; (2b.2) implementation of selected EM strategies; (2b.3) short-term outcomes for implemented EM strategies; and (2b.4) pre-post comparison of more distal outcome indicators (e.g., campus police call records, campus and local police visits to Greek houses and social events, property damage records for Greek housing, academic indicators such as Greek grade point averages, academic retention rates, levels of alcohol use, heavy drinking, and alcohol problems among Greeks).