The CASASTARTsm Field Guide

The CASASTARTsm Field Guide is organized so that readers can find meaningful guidance throughout every stage of developing a CASASTARTsm program. Feel free to read from beginning to end. Or use the section headings to search for specific information that applies to a question, dilemma or stage of the process in which you are currently engaged.

Part One: Overview of CASASTART

This section describes the program model for CASASTARTsm, the basic characteristics of a CASASTARTsm site, how the collaboration works, who participates in the program, what participants get, and what CASA contributes as both a partner and guide in the process.

Part Two: How to Build a Successful Collaboration

This section describes how to conduct a community assessment, identify a leader/lead agency, identify potential partners, identify Advisory Council members, get buy-in from potential partners, set realistic goals, develop interagency agreements, engage additional partners, establish and honor confidentiality provisions, and begin multiple acts of communication between the partners and other stakeholders in the community.

Part Three: How to Work With Youth and Their Families

This section describes how to define youth eligibility to join CASASTARTsm, develop a case management team, develop the case management process, conduct an intake and assessment interview with the child, draft an agreement with the child and family, make regular contact with the child, conduct an intake and assessment interview with the family, make regular contact with families and deliver the eight service components.

Part Four: How to Obtain Funds And Achieve Visibility to Sustain Your Program

This section describes how to use evaluation results to make the case for CASASTARTsm, and how to identify sources of funding and create a media and marketing strategy. It also includes a description of the theoretical basis for CASASTARTsm, which is likely to be requested when seeking grants.

Part Five: Resources and References

This section offers a map and grid of CASASTARTsm sites and features instructions on how to create 17 forms and templates necessary to implementing CASASTARTsm, including a sample budget and staffing pattern. Appendices A and B list Web sites that can be helpful in developing funds, and current and former funding sources for the program.

Popular Tags

Browse All Tags

A Proven Method

In 1992, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) created the program model for CASASTARTsm and set this bold new program into motion. Our vision —then and now—is to target children who are at high risk for substance abuse, delinquency and academic failure. We harness the collective power, resources and expertise of a variety of partners: schools, law enforcement, social service and healthcare agencies, funding institutions, community residents and the families of the children at risk.

The Urban Institute conducted a rigorous evaluation of the model from 1992 to 1996. The findings demonstrate that CASASTARTsm works. Compared to the randomly assigned control group, youth in the program were:

  • Significantly less likely to use gateway and stronger drugs;
  • Significantly less likely to report involvement in drug selling;
  • Significantly more likely to be promoted to the next grade.

Youth also reported:

  • Lower levels of violent offenses;
  • Higher levels of positive peer influence;
  • Lower levels of association with delinquent peers;
  • Less susceptibility to negative peer pressure.
These results have led to designation of CASASTARTsm as exemplary by the U.S. Department of Education’s Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools (2001). It has also been named a Model Program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (2002) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2003). CASASTARTsm has also been named a Promising Violence Prevention Program by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado (2000) and by the U.S. Surgeon General (2001).

CASA is pleased to offer the CASASTARTsm Field Guide, a practical how-to manual on implementing CASASTARTsm in your community. In this guide, you will find clear and concise instructions on how to:

  • Build a successful collaboration;
  • Develop trusting relationships with youth and their families;
  • Deliver the eight service components of CASASTARTsm to every participant;
  • Obtain funding and recognition to sustain your program.
CASA is proud to report on the success of CASASTARTsm, which, as of February 2001, operates in 17 sites nationwide in urban and rural areas. As you read and work with the material to follow, we are certain you will recognize the value of CASA’s common sense approach to substance abuse prevention and youth development. CASASTARTsm is an ambitious program that belongs in the hands of caring, dynamic individuals who will use it to transform the way they do business. As the program grows, CASASTARTsm will continue to prove itself as an essential part of the solution all communities, schools, families and our nation’s government are looking for as they strive to keep kids and communities safe and drug-free.

Thank you for your interest in CASASTARTsm and for being part of the solution.

Joseph A. Califano, Jr.

What's New

Powered by Community Server (Non-Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems