3. Training the Prevention Workforce-Future Prevention Workforce

The importance of training a prevention workforce hinges on gaining core competencies based on theory, research knowledge, and skills needed to plan and implement evidence-based prevention programming. The Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC) serves to provide the basis for such training. The Universal Prevention Curriculum (Translated for a Virtual Training as Foundations of Prevention Science and Practice) provides a training program for prevention coordinators, managers, and students/trainees whose role includes, or will include coordination and supervision of the implementation of prevention interventions and/or policies. The content is organized within the following nine courses: Introduction to Prevention Science and the Pharmacology and Physiology of Psychoactive Substances, Monitoring and Evaluation of Prevention Interventions and Policies, Family-based Prevention Interventions, School-based Prevention Interventions, Workplace-based Prevention Interventions, Environment-based Prevention Interventions, Media-based Prevention Interventions; and Community-based Prevention Implementation Systems. The experiences of integrating the UPC material into the development of new education standards in a prevention and competency model within a university setting will be presented.

The evaluation of the process of integrating UPC into new education standards was conducted through a review of syllabi, records from meetings, accreditation documents, and interviews with university staff.

The study conducted at Charles University shows specific difficulties related to mixing different curricula, new requirements on staff (including integrating international terminology and contacts etc), balancing competences linked to real labour market and employers, but also personal attitudes and prejudices.

The evaluation of integrating UPC into new education standards within a university setting emphases important issues related to the integration process and balancing implementation processes with national drug policy and specific local needs in particular country.