The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) was created by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to assist coalitions in developing the infrastructure needed for community-based, public health approaches leading to effective and sustainable reductions in alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and abuse.

SPF is a five-point process (Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation) that creates a comprehensive plan that everyone in the community has a stake in and owns; foster continued systems' approaches as the community experiences the outcomes of its investments; and hold community institutions accountable for producing results. The process is encased in two core principles of (1) sustaining programs, strategies, and policies that work and (2) operating from a position of cultural competence.

• Needs and Resource Assessment - Profile population needs, resources, and readiness to address needs and gaps
• Capacity Assessment - Mobilize and/or build capacity to address fiscal, human, and technical needs
• Planning - Develop a Comprehensive Strategic Plan
• Implementation- Implement evidence-based prevention programs, policies, practices and activities
• Evaluation - Monitor, evaluate, sustain, and improve efforts that show results; modify, replace, or eliminate strategies that do not show results