Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol
Program Description
Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) is a community-based practice to reduce underage alcohol access and consumption by addressing local policies and norms by engaging merchants, peers, and other adults who supply alcohol to youth. CMCA also empowers youth by building advocacy skills and confidence while promoting public policy enforcement to deter alcohol sales to minors and establish underage drinking as socially unacceptable.
Prevention Category
Practice Level
Strategies
Practice Components
Risk and Protective Factors
Population Age
Populations of Focus
Settings
Parental/Caregiver Involvement
Substance Use Prevention Focus
Recommended Staffing
Empirical Evidence of Impact
| Substance | Substance-Related Behavior | Population Age | Evidence Strength and Study Populations of Focus |
| Alcohol | Reduced Use or Delayed Initiation | 14-20 | Moderate (General Population)1-2 |
| References
1 Wagenaar, A. C., Murray, D. M., Gehan, J. P., Wolfson, M. F. J. L., Forster, J. L., Toomey, T. L., ... & Jones-Webb, R. (2000). Communities mobilizing for change on alcohol: outcomes from a randomized community trial. Journal of studies on alcohol, 61(1), 85-94. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.2000.61.85 2 Wagenaar, A. C., Livingston, M. D., Pettigrew, D. W., Kominsky, T. K., & Komro, K. A. (2018). Communities mobilizing for change on alcohol (CMCA): Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial showing effects of community organizing on alcohol acquisition by youth in the Cherokee nation. Addiction, 113(4), 647-655. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14113 |
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Training and Technical Assistance
The Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) offers customizable training and consulting services that can be adapted for youth, adults, or groups of both youth and adults. Beyond training on CMCA, YLI offers trainings on coalition development and sustainability, environmental prevention, and outcome/measurement development for environmental and other CMCA-related strategies.
Adaptations
CMCA is highly flexible and adaptable to the needs of each community.
Program Costs
Please visit the developer’s website listed above for updated information about implementation costs.
What California Providers Are Saying
What They Like About Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol
- The environmental program aligns with community engagement efforts, substance use norms, and media messaging strategies.
- Leadership building among community members is prioritized.
- The curriculum is free and locally developed.
- It provides guidance and a flexible framework, making it ideal for diverse communities.
- Needs of highly diverse and immigrant populations are met and customized.
- The program can be integrated with a youth/adult coalition, youth development, and peer mentoring programs.
Tips and Recommendations for Implementing Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol
- The program lacks a script and requires staff with knowledge of prevention, community engagement, and organizing.
- Since it’s not prescriptive, time is needed to plan how to implement it locally.
- Initial training is available, but additional consultation services are not required.
- Adaptation is encouraged as the program allows for modifications to integrate key local concepts and priorities.
- The program works well in multi-strategy approaches.
Labels
Universal,
Community, community-society, community society,
Society,
Information dissemination,
Community-based processes, community based processes,
Environmental,
Communication Skills,
Cognitive Behavioral Strategies,
Pro-Social Connections and Activities (prosocial adults, peers, organizations),
Problem Solving,
Skills Training,
Community-based Processes,
Economic Availability Reduction,
Enforce Existing Restrictions on Substance Use,
Media Campaigns,
Retail Availability Reduction,
Self-monitoring,
Shift Community Norms,
Social Availability Reduction,
Early initiation of substance use,
Favorable attitudes towards substance abuse,
High self-esteem,
Personal engagement in two or more of the following: school, peers, athletics, employment, religion/spirituality, culture,
Strong coping skills (e.g. problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values),
Clear expectations for behaviors and values,
Accessibility of substances,
Norms favorable towards substance use,
Community norms, beliefs, and standards against substance use,
Opportunities for prosocial engagement in the school and community,
Positive social norms,
Age 0-5, Ages 0-5,
Age 6-12, Ages 6-12,
Age 13-17, Ages 13-17,
Age 18-20, Ages 18-20,
General population,
No parent/caregiver involvement,
Alcohol,
Community-based program, community based program,
Broader Community/Society, broader community society, broader community-society,
Community Members,