What is Prevention Science? Here are Three Things to Know to Increase Your Awareness.
Delaware’s Governor John Carney and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long declared August 2022 Prevention Science Awareness Month. The official declaration encourages all Delawareans to “implement prevention strategies in services and programs to join in reducing health inequities and disparities of all forms.”
What is Prevention Science?
According to the National Prevention Science Coalition (NPSC), prevention science focuses on developing policies, practices and strategies that “reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.” For more than 50 years, prevention science has examined problems that negatively affect people and communities (e.g., food insecurity, domestic abuse, crime, various forms of trauma) and promoted the development of programs and interventions that work to lessen or prevent their occurrence. As NPSC notes, prevention science works by “strengthening conditions that enable individuals, families, and communities to thrive and lessening conditions that foster negative health and social outcomes, such as violence, mental illness, substance abuse, and poverty.”
A quote from the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu helps to illustrate the concept: “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”
What are Some Examples of Prevention Science in Everyday Life?
Prevention science influences a broad range of policies, programming, and initiatives. Here are just a few examples from the NPSC website:
- Promoting daily physical activity and good nutrition to protect against chronic disease
- Disrupting pathways to substance use disorder across the lifespan
- Improving academic and behavioral outcomes with the expansion of high-quality childcare and early learning, and promoting positive and supportive school environments
- Increasing resilience, social competency and self-regulation to reduce impulsive, aggressive and off-task behavior in individuals
- Supporting the development of healthy relationships to reduce interpersonal and domestic violence
How Does Wilmington University Provide Prevention Science Education?
Dr. Debra Berke
Wilmington University is a local leader in prevention science education, offering the only 100% online practical Doctor of Social Science in Prevention Science degree in the nation. The program was created by Dr. Debra Berke, a Certified Family Life Educator and director of the WilmU Center for Prevention Science. Dr. Berke is the recipient of one of the inaugural Compassionate Champion Awards from the Governor and Mrs. Carney in 2019 for her work in trauma-informed approaches and subsequent training of many employees of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and the Delaware Department of Labor in becoming trauma-informed.
Led by program chair Dr. Shawn Stevens, a Certified Prevention Specialist, WilmU’s Prevention Science doctoral program provides an interdisciplinary approach to researching and evaluating risk and protective factors affecting individuals, families and communities, as well as innovating solutions through programs and policy. It integrates theories and methodologies from the disciplines of public health, human development, developmental psychopathology, education, behavioral sciences, economics, evaluation, epidemiology, and public policy and administration. Candidates hone their research, communication, problem-solving and presentation skills through coursework that emphasizes cultural sensitivity.
In addition, the University’s Center for Prevention Science provides resources to local and regional schools and school districts, community organizations, government agencies, and employers.
These educational and community initiatives can provide:
- Training sessions and coaching
- Needs assessments and consultation
- Coalition building
- Community and workforce development
- Policy briefs
The Center’s efforts are designed to put research into practice, examining and providing solutions to such social and public health concerns as substance abuse, mental health, crime and violence, human trafficking, family dysfunction, chronic illness, obesity, diet and nutrition, homelessness, suicide, juvenile delinquency, risky sexual behavior, and physical disability and developmental delays. It aims to improve community health, well-being and resilience.
Wilmington University is proud to support the important discipline of prevention science. Thank you for increasing your Prevention Science Awareness!